National power plan targets 67,000 Mw more

The National Electricity Plan, an integral part of the 11th Five-year Plan (2007-12), may target a generation capacity addition of 67,000 Mw.

The government also plans to add generation capacity of around 60,000 Mw in the 12th Five-year Plan (2012-2017) and will make this part of the plan.

The Central Electricity Authority is formulating the plan in consultation with the Planning Commission and ministries of coal, power, railways, non-conventional energy sources, petroleum and natural gas. The plan is likely to be finalised by June this year.

"Of the 67,000 Mw planned capacity by 2012, 20,000 Mw will come from hydro-generation, 40,000 Mw from coal-based power generation, 3,000 Mw from nuclear power generation and 4,000 Mw from non-conventional energy sources," a senior government official told Business Standard.

Around 50 per cent of the generation has been planned in the central sector, 30 per cent from the state sector and the rest from the private sector.

"This approach has been taken as in the eighth Five-year Plan (1992-97) and the ninth Five-year Plan (1997-2002) we relied heavily on the private sector for capacity addition. They faltered in delivering as the state electricity boards were unable to pay," the official added.

The projections are demand-based and will help in providing electricity to all by 2012. The resources for this capacity addition are being tied up with the ministries of coal, power, non-conventional energy sources and finance.

"The plan will immensely help the equipment manufacturers associated with the power sector to shape their businesses accordingly. For example, the railways will have a target regarding the coal movement required for thermal plants and will plan accordingly," the official added.