Delhi to get additional 2000 MW power by 2009

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) The power-strapped national capital will get an additional 2000 MW of power within the next three years with the formal signing of MoU between the Delhi Government and the the Petronet LNG Ltd today.

Petronet will supply 7.3 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter per day (MMSCMD) gas for gas-based power projects of Delhi to meet the demand, especially during the Commonwealth Games 2010.

The Delhi Government plans to set up gas-based projects in Delhi as coal-based power stations cannot be launched in the Capital due environmental reasons.

The MOU was signed between officials of Petronet and Pragati Power Corporation Ltd in presence of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and other senior officials.

Reiterating the Centre's support to make Delhi self-sufficient in power generation, Mr Deora said the Mou is a crucial building block towards that direction.

''We are committed to support Delhi in its endeavour to achieve this goal,'' he added.

Describing the signing of the MOU as the ''red letter day and historic event'' for Delhi, Ms Dikshit said the capital will now generate electricity from clean and environment friendly fuel.

''We were not allowed coal stations and water was not available to us.... Gas-based stations are a welcome,'' she added.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has consented to give 10 MMSCMD gas to Delhi which can augment generation of 2000 MW power.

With the signing of this MoU, 350 MW Pragati-II Power Project and 1000 Bawana Power Project are scheduled to be made operational before the Commonwealth Games.

''The setting up of the gas-based plants ensure that Delhi is insulated from grid shocks on account of high level of dependence on the Northern Grid,'' Ms Dikshit said.

''Not only the will the supply of power will improve, it will also provide stability to the system and there would be surplus power in Delhi from 2010-11,'' she added.

The Chief Minister said the old coal-based Indraprastha Power Station will be replace with a gas-based power station of around 750 MW.

''There is an urgent need to augument the power generation capacity in Delhi at all cost particularly when the Commonwealth Games are due to be held in the capital.'' UNI NR SRS BS1818 I