Power generation in UP to cross 4,000 Mw by March next year

Treading the path of self dependence in power generation in near future, Uttar Pradesh is likely to witness its total power generation breach 4,000 mega watt (Mw) by the end of this financial year.

This would include about 700 Mw from hydro power generation and 450 Mw of co-generation by sugar mills, UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) director (finance) S K Agarwal told Business Standard.

At present, the total generation in UP, including both the state and private sectors, is in the region of 3,100 Mw against the restricted demand of almost 11,000 Mw.

While, state utility UPPCL imports about 4,000 Mw from the central sector, it additionally procures about 400 Mw from energy exchange and gets about 1,100 Mw from other states/utilities through purchase agreements.

Overdraw by UPPCL from national grid varies on day-to-day basis depending upon demand. On Tuesday, it touched 1,348 Mw vis-à-vis 35 Mw yesterday.

The breakup of 4,000 Mw total generation would include Harduaganj (500 Mw), Parichcha (500 Mw), Anpara C (1,200 Mw), Reliance Power’s Roja plant in Shahjahanpur (900 Mw) and co-generation (450 Mw).

While two Roja units of 300 Mw each have been commissioned so far, another 300 Mw unit is likely to be commissioned soon.

During the last four years, 1,200 Mw new power generation capacity has been added in the state, including 600 Mw from private sector (Roja).

Recently, the state cabinet had approved the proposal to set up a 660-Mw super critical unit at Harduaganj to replace the defunct ‘A’ plant of the Harduaganj thermal power project. The unit would be set up by UPPCL.

The cabinet also approved open bidding for the supply of equipment and civil construction required for the plant. The project is estimated at Rs 4,826 crore, of which 20 per cent of the equity capital would be provided by the state and the rest would be debt from financial institutions.

UP has ambitious targets in power sector and is working towards augmenting its power generation capacity by 35,000 Megawatt (Mw) in the next 6-7 years.

Additional capacity would mainly come from the memorandum of understanding (MoU) route, case II bidding process as well as government-run units.

While in MoU route, the government has already signed agreements with private and central public sector enterprises for 15,677 Mw, the case II bidding would account for 9,470 Mw. UP power utilities would add another 5,550 Mw.

UP is targeting investment of Rs 52,000 crore in transmission sector, of which private sector share would be Rs 10,000 crore. In power distribution sector, the state plans to invest Rs 31,000 crore, including electrification of rural hamlets, which alone would account for Rs 12,000 crore.