Capacity Addition Slippages To Spur Energy Shortage Of 10.2%

Following slippages in capacity addition targets in power generation during the Ninth Plan, the country is projected to face an energy shortage of 10.2 per cent and a peaking deficit of 16.5 per cent by the end of the current Plan period (March 2002). This is against a country-wide energy shortage of 7.8 per cent and a peak deficit of 13 per cent during 2000-01.

According to the report of the working group on power for the Tenth Plan, which has been recently submitted to the government for approval, projects of only about 19,213 mw are likely to be realised in the Ninth Plan period (1997-2002) against the target of 40,245 mw, a realisation of only 48 per cent.

The slippages in capacity addition targets during the five-year period would translate into higher shortages in energy availability and an increase in peak shortages (energy shortages during the peak periods).

During 2000-01, the western region was faced with the highest energy and peak load shortages, with a total peaking shortage of over 19 per cent. Three states -- Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra -- experienced more than 10 per cent peak deficit during the fiscal. "Most of these states are likely to see higher load shortages by March 2002, with an increase in overall energy and peak load shortages by the end of the Ninth Plan period.

Both the southern and northern regions were faced with around eight per cent energy shortage during 2000-01, while the south had a peak deficit of nearly 15 per cent as against a peaking shortage of 8.6 per cent.

Based on the projections of the 16th Electric Power Survey, additional generation capacity of over 1,00,000 mw needs to be added to ensure power on demand by 2012.