BHUBANESWAR: Projecting the State’s energy demand at 5700 MW by 2018-19, the State Government on Monday said the upcoming thermal power projects will meet the additional requirement.
Claiming that three thermal power projects will be ready by 2018-19, Minister of State for Energy Pranab Prakash Das told the Assembly that about 2500 MW will be available to the State from these projects. He said the third and fourth units of 660 MW each of OPGC’s Ib Thermal Power Station at Banharpalli and two units (800 MW each) of NTPC’s Darlipalli super thermal power project in Sundargarh district are scheduled to be commissioned by 2018.
Besides, 4000-MW ultra mega power project (UMPP) at Bedabahal is likely to be ready by 2019. While the State’s share from the UMPP will be 1300 MW, it will get another 1200 MW from OPGC and NTPC, the Minister said while replying to a discussion on demand for grants of the Energy department. “The current power crisis in the State is due to poor hydro conditions in the reservoirs. With an erratic monsoon, the State is experiencing a shortfall of about 600 MW of hydel power during peak hours due to low water level in reservoirs,” said Das.
Describing the power crisis as temporary, Das said the problem is likely to be over after the current spell of rains and commissioning of the thermal units of four independent power projects.
Though three of the four units (350 MW each) of GMR Energy Ltd and one unit of 600 MW of Jindal Thermal Power Power Limited (JITPL) have been commissioned, they are not fully operational. Two other independent power projects (IPPs) of Ind Barath and Monnet Energy are scheduled to be commissioned during this financial year. The State’s share from the four power projects will be about 500 MW, he said.
Stating that nearly 44 lakh houses of the State are yet to be provided electricity under the rural electrification programme, the Minister said the Government has targeted to energise 25 lakh houses during next five years.
Das informed the House that the Government has initiated measures to set up small hydro power stations to augment hydel power generation. Initiating the discussion, Nabakishore Das of Congress slammed the Government for the present power crisis and its failure in bringing down the high transmission and distribution loss even after 15 years.
The Minister sought the cooperation of MLAs for reducing the technical and commercial loss in power sector.