78,577 MW of electricity to be added during 11th plan period

New Delhi, Feb 7 (UNI) Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said the country will add 78,577 MW of electricity during the 11th Five-Year Plan Period from 2007-2012.

''About 14,000 MW is expected from renewable and other 12,000 MW from captive route,'' Mr Shinde told reporters here.

''During the period April 2007 to January 2008, a total of 7,263 MW has already been added and projects to the tune of 60,214 MW are already under construction. Also, orders for machinery of projects to the tune of 10,950 MW will be placed by the end of March 2008,'' the Minister added.

The capacity addition during the last three plan periods has reached 56,722 MW. The capacity addition during eighth plan period was 16,423 MW, during ninth plan period was 19,119 MW and tenth plan period was 21,180 MW.

''The current installed capacity in the country is over 1,40,300 MW which comprises 90,645 MW from Thermal, 34,681 MW from Hydro, 4120 MW from Nuclear and 10,855 MW from Renewables,'' Mr Shinde said.

The total generation of electricity in the country during the current year (April to December 2007) was 526 billion units, as compared to about 493 billion units during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 6.6 per cent, he added.

The Plant Load Factor (PLF) of thermal power stations in the country during April to December 2007 was 77.2 per cent compared to 75.9 per cent during the previous year.

The PLF of central sector generating stations during the current year increased from 82.3 per cent last year to 85.4 per cent this year.

UNI BJR PBB DS1610