Govt to limit gas-based power generation to 2,000mw in 11th plan

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) The government will limit the share of gas-based power generation in the eleventh plan to just 2,000 mw of the total targeted production of 75,000 mw, keeping the availability and price volatility of gas in view.

''Availability of gas and predictability of price are the two things we have to look for. There are already some gas-based power plants, which are reeling under shortage of fuel supply.

At this point of time we don't want to plan for further problems.

We seek to limit the gas-based power generation in the eleventh plan to 2,000 mw of the our total target of 75,000 mw,'' Power Secretary R V Shahi told reporters at the Power-Gen 2006 exhibition here.

''Our aim is to produce power and make it available at affordable rates. Power generation using gas as a fuel will not be a favourable option for us,'' Mr Shahi said.

Pointing out that the gas production by state-owned exploration and production firms, like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has reduced instead of increasing, he, however, said that things may be reconsidered once the first phase of the gas project at Krishna-Godavari (K G) Basin becomes operational by mid-2008.

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