Electricity generation jumps 8% to 70 bu in June

On the back of increased capacity addition, power generation in the country rose more than eight per cent to 70.4 billion units (bu)in June as compared to the same period a year ago, says a report.

The country witnessed electricity generation of 64.8 bu in June 2010. “In June 2011, all India (power) generation grew 8.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 70 bu, led by an increase in installed capacity by 10 Gw (10,000 Mw) over the past 12 months and higher plant load factors (PLFs) of nuclear and hydro plants,” according to a report from brokerage firm Motilal Oswal.

Out of total production last month, 55.9 bu came from thermal plants that run on coal, lignite and gas. Hydro projects generated 11.9 bu of electricity during the same period.

“Private sector generation grew 21 per cent YoY, the state sector by 11 per cent YoY and the central sector by 3 per cent,” the report said.

Overall, PLF, an indicator of a power project’s efficiency inched up to 61.8 per cent last month as against 61 per cent in the year-ago period.

However, the PLF of plants, fired by coal and lignite, declined to 73.4 per cent in June 2011.

The same stood at 74.7 per cent in the same period a year ago.

India is expected to see a capacity addition of about 51,000 Mw in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12).