Monday, August 16, 2010

Indian Power Sector buzzing with activities

  • India has a large generation capacity . (4 % of the world capacity). Not bad, isn't it ? But thanks to our teeming billions, this is really little. Our per capita consumption is not even 1000 KWH/year. World average is close to 3000 KWH/year.
  • Transmission scenario is even more worrysome than generation. Only 13 % of the generated power can be transmitted at present. Plan is to increase this to 20% by 2012.
  • Tough time ahead for Chinese suppliers? With majority of orders in recent past going to China, govt has proposed 10% import duty, just to bail out BHEL. But one govt body is protesting this import duty. Guess whom? Competition Commision of India ( CCI) ! Here the catch is India can't survive without China as Indian power equipment suppliers dont have the capacity to serve massive orders coming for UMPPs.
  • So, its official now. Govt alone cant take ahead nuke power projects. But being a sensitive issue, we now hear what is termed as "minor" private partnership in nuke power sector.
  • The new baseline for CO2 emmission has come. CEA has declared it as 0.82 t CO2 / MWh.
  • One of our neighbours has realised that they depend upon us for power sector growth. Yes, its the Bangladesh.We are poised to hear more Indo-Bangla power transmission agreements.
  • This five year plan could add only 62000 MW against the target of 78000 MW. But current year was super duper hit. Compared to not even 10,000 MW added in each of the last 3 years, this year added good 22,000 MW.
  • Despite above, 57 % of our rural houses and 12 % of urban houses are dark. Reason? I think its coal shortage. 75 of our power plants run on coal which consume most of 400 mT produced by CIL. What about gas? Well, picture is even more grim there. Only 144 mscmd is produced in India. So, coal is, and will remain king fuel in Indian power sector.

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