Two lakh MW power capacity to be added to next two Five-Year plans: CEA chief

New Delhi, Feb.23 (ANI): The Government is expected to produce nearly 42,000 MW more power during the current 11th Five Year Plan, taking the total additional power capacity during the Plan to more than 62,000 MW.

This was stated by the Director of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Mrs. Neerja Mathur, during a workshop on "Coal Supply and Demand in India: 2030 and Beyond" at Observer Research Foundation, a premier public policy think tank, here today.

The CEA Director said 20,352 MW capacity has already been commissioned during Plan, out of which 16,481 MW are thermal, 3431 MW hydro and 440 MW nuclear power.

Out of the 62,294 MW power capacity to be commissioned in this Plan, 50,757 MW will be thermal, 8157 MW hydro and 3380 MW nuclear, she said quoting figures based on a mid-term review.

She said the high degree of confidence in generating 60,000 MW capacity emanated from the fact that 20,000 MW are being executed by foreign suppliers where there are no supply issues, 14,000 MW by the private sector where there is no delay expected and 2000 MW hydro power by the BHEL.

The CEA Director said during the 12th Plan, one lakh MW power capacity will be added. This includes 76,600 MW thermal power (coal 74,100 MW and lignite 2500 MW), 20,000 MW hydro power and 3400 MW nuclear power capacity addition.

The 13th Five Year Plan is also targeted to add one lakh more megawatts of power generation capacity in keeping with India's economic growth, she said.

The CEA Director said out of the total 80 coal-fired power stations as of today, 22 power stations were marked as 'critical power stations' with less than seven days of stock while 15 were 'super critical' power stations with stock less than 4 days.

She suggested that to commensurate with expected growth of coal-based capacity, matching growth in coal supply needed to be ensured besides the States and utilities gearing up to meet their respective targets for import of coal.

Chairing the event, Dr. D.V. Kapur, founder Chairman of NTPC, said there was an urgent need to bring in competition - even if between the State-owned institutions. He said once competition starts, then technological changes would follow. He emphasized on technological advancements like coal gasification in view of the demands for green energy and environmental protection.

Dr. Kapur also stressed on better management of coal as he said in 40-45 years, there will not be any coal reserve left in India if we consume 5 per cent more than we do at the moment.

Mr. S.K. Chowdhury, former chairman of Coal India Ltd and Executive President of the Indian Coal Forum, Mr. R.B. Mathur, former CMD, SECL, BCCL and CMPDI, Dr. V. Mani, General Manager of Lanco Infratech, Mr. Dhiraj Saha of the NTPC and Mr. Sunjoy Joshi, Distinguished Fellow, ORF, spoke at the workshop. (ANI)