 "High fuel prices to keep gas based power projects in a bind")
The unavailability of natural gas and steep prices of imported LNG are hurting the operations of gas-based power projects in the country.
Gas-based power generation capacity in the country at present is 25,300 Mw — the figure is 7.5% of the total installed power capacity. Data by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) shows over 70% of privately operated gas plant potential is underutilised due to unavailability of natural gas required to fuel them. For the ones operated by Centre or state, the under-utilisation is lower at 38-40%. In 2016-17, the gas fired projects operated at a mere 22.51% plant load factor
