Average power demand up 17 per cent

Despite downturn in the industrial economy, the average non-peak demand of power in Orissa has increased to 2450 Mw during the first three months of the current year.

This is about 16.89 percent higher than the average demand of 2096 Mw in 2007-08 and about 4.25 percent higher than the projection made by Gridco for a period of 5 months starting from January to May 2009.

The state government has been able to meet the rising requirement, thanks to the supply from Captive Generation Plants (CGPs) and purchase of cheap power from outside.

Sources said, Gridco projected average demand to be about 2350 Mw during the first five months of 2009, with the power availability in the range of 2050 to 2080 Mw leaving a deficit of about 300 Mw.

This was to be met through the supply from a host of captive generation plants (CGPs) including 150 Mw from Bhushan Steel and Power, 30 Mw from Meenakshi Power and about 100 Mw from Nalco and 100 Mw from 13 other CGPs,

However, the average demand during the current year ( till 25th March) increased to 2450 Mw, about 100 Mw higher than the projected figure.

Sources said, due to industrial downturn, the demand for power had declined by about 150 Mw. But recently, the industry demand for power has revived and increased by about 100 Mw. So practically, the industry demand for power has increased by about 250 Mw compared to the projection made in the beginning of the year. The fast pace of construction work by Vedanta Aluminium and Bhushan Energy, is reported to have contributed to this surge.

That apart, the rural electrification under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana and increased household consumption due to high temperature, have pushed up power demand in the state.

Though the government intended to source 520 Mw from hydro power generation to meet the summer demand, the generation was higher for some time. But it has been kept at a level of less than 350 Mw for last one week in view of no rainfall in the reservoir areas.

On the otherhand, the contribution of CGPs to the state Grid has increased to about 250 Mw from 100 Mw projected earlier.

The good news for the state is that Vedanta Aluminium will provide 100 Mw power to the state grid from its CGP. Besides, it will stop drawing 70Mw to 80 Mw power from the state grid for its construction activities. Shyam DRI is also likely to supply 30 Mw to the state Grid in April.