Govt to double capacity addition to 1200 MW a year

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) With the country facing severe power crisis, the Government today said that it plans to add 12,000 MWs of electricity each year by creating large generation capacities with the help of private and public partnerships.

'' Capacity addition in generation, distribution reforms and rural electrification are the top-most priorities of the government.

The government has also planned for an addition of 100,000 MWs generation capacity by 2012,'' Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said at a conference ''India Electricity-2006.'' He said the challenge at hand recquires creation of large generation capacities in the country.''In a short span of time we have to move from the current pace of capacity addition of about 6 to 7 000 MW a year to over 12000 MW per annum to realise the targets set for the 11th plan.'' Mr Shinde said against this backdrop the ministry has launched the ultra mega power projects at coal pitheads and coastal locations. Seven such projects have been identified one each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, KArnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, the minister said.

These projects he said are aimed at using economies of scale to deliver comparably cheaper power to the system.

He said efforts are being made to coordinate with various agencies at the central and state level.

The response of the private sector towards these projects has been overwhelming, the minister said adding that Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for Sasan and Munhra has been received from more than 30 national and international companies including EOIs from South Korea, Japan, United States, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Power Ministry is also enhancing the capacity of the national power grid that would enhance inter-regional power transfer capacity to about 37,000 MW at an investment of 16,000 million dollar in the central sector, the Minister said.

UNI/RT PV PC1921