India to become power surplus nation: Shinde

Agartala, Jan 3 (ANI): Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that India would be a power surplus nation with the addition of 45,000 MW of power during the 12th Five Year Plan period.

"We have added about 44000MW of capacity during the last four-and-a-half years. Last year capacity addition was 9,585MW, which is the highest in a year. We have a target of generating 15000MW this year," Shinde told a seminar here on Sunday.

"With the completion of various power project within the 12th plan we would be able to add 45000 MW" he said, adding that after the independence India used to generate 1400 MW and now the country generates 1,67,000MW.

"The power sector in the country has immense potential. I hope that private sector would use the same in the coming days," he said.

Regarding Tripura's commercial supply of power to Bangladesh, Shinde said that since Tripura is a small state and it would also soon become a power surplus state in coming days, as it can sell its power resources to other countries.

"Yes, Tripura needs very little power and see at the moment there is some shortage but soon Tripura will become a surplus (power) state and they can sell their power. Even today, while I did review, even today they sell power to other countries," he added. (ANI)