Centre asks Goa to set up gas-based power plant

The Centre has asked the Goa government to consider setting up a gas-based power plant in the state.

“We have suggested gas-based electricity generation in Goa,” Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said at Economic Editors’ Conference. Goa being a tourist destination, the power project had to be environment-friendly, he said.

Gas-based power generation accounts for 10.5 per cent of India’s total generation capacity of over 164,000 Mw.

At the same time, the government said it would meet its 62,000-Mw power capacity addition target during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12).

“The government has fixed the 62,000-Mw power generation target in the 11th Plan period (2007-12) and we are confident of achieving the target,” the minister said. About 40,000 Mw has been generated in the last four years and 9,500 Mw was added in 2009-10.

State-run power firm NTPC plans to add over 10,000 Mw gas-based power capacity in the next five years. NTPC has seven gas-based power plants which generate about 4,000 Mw capacity.

He also said talks were on with the Maharashtra government for the proposed ultra mega power plant. “There are some land issues, the talks are on. We hope to find a solution.”