11th Plan power target likely to be missed

The Planning Commission has once again raised doubts over achieving the targeted power capacity addition of over 78,000 Mw planned in the current Five-Year Plan period (2007-2012).

“I could say 40,000 Mw is certainly achievable, 60,000 Mw is a possible target but 77,000 Mw looks a bit difficult,” said Kirit Parikh, member (energy), Planning Commission. Last month, Parikh had expressed hope that India could go close to 70,000 Mw in achieving the target.

The power ministry has set up a target of adding 78,577 Mw of power generation capacity in the current Plan period, out of which about 15 per cent — 12,000 MW — has been achieved. Parikh attributed the apprehension over meeting the capacity addition target mainly to the non-achievement of financial closures of some projects.

“Not many of the planned projects have done financial closures and there are other problems also,” he said.

Earlier this year, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had said that the capacity addition target of even over 90,000 Mw was achievable, including the power generation capacity planned to be added in the Plan period.

While over 80,000 Mw of power generation capacity was planned to be set up in the last two Plan periods, only about 50 per cent of this capacity could actually be added.

India currently has an installed power generation capacity of around 145,000 Mw and is planning to add another 78,577 Mw in the current Plan period. This includes over 75 per cent of thermal power generation capacity and the balance is expected to be set up for hydro and nuclear power generation.