For 9% growth, India needs 8 lakh Mw power: Shahi

To sustain a growth rate of 8 to 9 per cent over next 25 years, the country will have to augment power generation to 8 lakh Mw from about 1,50,000 Mw at present.

Though the contribution of the hydro power sector can more than treble during this period, coal-based generation will continue to play the major role in achieving the target, R V Shahi, former Union power secretary, said here.

Addressing a workshop on requirement of power for mineral based industries in the state, organised by the Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologists (SGAT), Shahi said, power will be the critical element for achieving a growth of about 9 per cent.

While the hydro-power generation in the country can increase up to 1,50,000 Mw from 35,000Mw at present, the wind power generation can go up to 45,000 Mw from about 10,000 Mw.

Though nuclear option is considered as a good source of energy, it cannot be taken beyond 55,000 Mw from about 4000 Mw at present.

In this backdrop, coal will continue to be the main source of power generation in the country with its share in the total generation likely to reach 60-65 percent in next 25 years, he added.

Making a comparison with neighbouring China, Shahi said, the total power generation in China was 2300 Mw in 1950 compared to 1500 Mw in India. This increased to 7,50,000 Mw there compared to 1,50,000 Mw in India. Since the power sector has not suffered from the impact of the global slowdown, industries can look at this sector.

Stating that Orissa has the potential to be the power hub of the country, Shahi said, the state has huge coal reserve which is easily extractable. Though the state government has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with power companies for generation of about 30,000 to 40,000 Mw power, most of the projects are not taking off.