'Our biggest challenge is to increase plant load factor'

Rural electrification, adding on new projects to meet the overall capacity addition targets, increasing plant load factor (PLF) at all its plants would be top priorities of the state power department this year. In an interview with Margaret Williams, G D Gautama, principal secretary, department of power & non-conventional energy sources, government of West Bengal, who assumed charge this month outlines the department's priorities and challenges.Edited excerpts.

What will be the department's main focus this year?
Special thrust will be given to identifying newer projects, we have to ensure continuous flow of projects. The total installed capacity including that of WBPDCL, DPL, CESC and DPSC at present stands at 5138 Mw.A couple of projects like the two 300 megawatt (Mw) projects in Sagardihi, one 500 Mw unit at Bakreswar, rehabilitation of Bandel unit 5 of 250 Mw, another 500 Mw project at Santaldih and DPL unit 9 & 10 of 250 Mw each are under planning stage, more projects will be added this year. We have to add on new projects.

This apart, the village electrification scheme under the Rajiv Gandhi Vidyut Vitran Yojna (RGVVY) will be a priority this year.

What is the status quo of the RGVVY at present? The allocation for RGVVY was raised 27 per cent to Rs 70 billion this budget. Has West Bengal's fund allocation increased?
RGVVY has been very successfully implemented in the state, it will be one of our priorities this year.

As on date 99.36 per cent of the mouzas in the state have been electrified. However, only 43 per cent of the households have been electrified so far.

Our target is to get all the households across the state electrified in another 18 months. West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) is handling 14 districts and NTPC, NHPC and Power Grid another five districts.

The government of India has increased the fund allocation and has sanctioned Rs 2124.60 crore for 14 projects, while Government of West Bengal has sanctioned another Rs 661 crore for five projects under phase 2 of this project which commenced from September last year September, Rs 505 crore was allocated in phase 1 for this scheme.

What is the biggest challenge to state power generation utilities?
One of the biggest hurdles that we are facing now, is increasing the plant load factor (PLF) of all state-run power plants, renovation and modernisation, operation and maintenance of the existing plants, most of them being very old.

Our biggest challenge will be to increase the PLF from existing 63.07 per cent to 71 per cent as recommended by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Some of the plants of our generating company, WBPDCL are operating at really low PLF.The State Electricity Regulatory Commission have set up a target of 71 per cent PLF for PDCL which needs to be worked out.

What are the main hurdles to achieving the 71 per cent PLF target?
The target is achievable, but we need to first work out the operation and maintenance cost, renovation and modernisation plan of the plants and also ensure coal availability. Some of the plants are working on a hand to mouth situation on a day to day basis with very limited stock. Coal pricing as well as the availability needs to be worked out, we are in constant talks with CIL. We hope to resolve the issue.