NTPC bids under NELP

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) NTPC is exploring the possibility of bidding under the New Exploration Licensing policy-(NELP-VI) and is in the process of identifying the blocks of interest and suitable technical partner.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said there are 55 blocks on offer by the government under NELP-VI.

Earlier a consortium comprising of NTPC Ltd, Canoror Resources and Geo Petrol International has already been alloted an oil exploration block AA-ONN-2003/2 in Arunachal Pradesh under NELP-V.

NTPC has a 40 per cent stake in this consortium.

The Minister said transmission and distribution losses in the country is pegged at 31.05 per cent in 2004-05 compared to 32.54 per cent in 2002-03.

He said the reason for T and D losses are mainly due to old and weak infrastructure, overloading of existing lines and substation equipments, absence of upgradation of old lines and equipments, poor maintenance of equipments, theft and pilferage, tampering of meters, low accountability of employees and non implementation of anti-theft measures.

On capacity additions, Mr Shinde said a working group on power for formulation of 11th plan has been set up by the Planning Commission which is required to recommend the optimal mix of additional generating capacity to be created during the 11th plan in terms of hydro, thermal and nuclear generation on the basis of different fuels at different locations.

The size of the eleventh plan capacity addition programme is dependent upon the recommedations of the working group to this effect, Mr Shinde said.

UNI RT PV DS1405