Country to add 17,461 MW power capacity this fiscal

Second-highest capacity addition in any year. Industry asks for more discussion on bid documents

India is set to add 17,461 Megawatt (MW) of power capacity addition this financial year (2012-13), the power ministry announced. This would be the second-highest achievement in a year after last fiscal’s 20,500 MW capacity addition.

“We have already added 12,461 Mw this year so far. An additional 5,000 MW is expected to come on stream by March taking the total to 17,461 MW,” power minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said. He was addressing a press gathering after chairing the maiden meeting of the ministry’s Advisory Panel comprising industry heavyweights.

Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry, ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani and ICICI Bank Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chanda Kochchar were among the members of the Advisory Group who attended today’s meeting.

Power secretary P Uma Shankar informed the industry leaders talked about many issues, including Standard Bid Documents (SBDs). “They asked for another round of discussion saying there was some bit of un-easiness on the matter. This was allowed. Also, the members of the group raised concerns over the recent environment ministry’s directive disallowing low GCV coal in projects,” he said.

The power ministry is currently reviewing the SBDs for projects. The industry wants, in the new SBDs, provisions to take into account impact of change in law in coal exporting nations and addressing material adverse conditions through an enabling provision for review of contract conditions. Scindia said the approval of the empowered ministerial panel on revised SBDs would be sought only after another round of discussion with the Advisory Panel.
 
The minister also announced that largest power generator NTPC Ltd would commence operations in at least one of its six captive mines within three months. He said the Resettlement and Rehabilitation plan of the mines has recently been approved.

Also, the power utilities have signed Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) with Coal India Ltd for 21,000 Mw capacity out of an overall 60,000 Mw capacity which was awaiting assured coal supplies. “The difficult and discriminatory FSA clauses are resolved. NTPC would sign agreements for 14,000 Mw and others will follow,” Scindia said.

He also said the ministry is planning to extend complete independence to Power Operation System Corporation (Posoco), a Powergrid  subsidiary that manages national grid operations, and convert it into a technical regulator. Scindia did not share further details.