Guj demands sufficient allocation of fuel for its power plants

Gujarat has demanded sufficient allocation and supply of fuel for its gas-based and coal-based power stations in the state.

"Gujarat has 23 pc of its installed capacity of electricity generation based on gas, which is highest in the country," minister of state for energy Saurabh Patel told PTI.

"Over 4500 MW captive installed capacity is presently under utilized on account of insufficient availability of gas," Patel, who recently attended a conference of energy ministers in the national capital, claimed.

Patel urged the Union Power ministry to ask the agencies concerned to allocate adequate quantity of gas for existing and upcoming gas based power stations.

He said coal allocation and supply for power projects in Gujarat has also been inadequate because of which the existing coal based power plants have been operating at critical stock position.

The minister said even after allocation of coal equivalent to annual contracted capacity, there is shortage of 11 lakh Metric Tonne per annum for plants run by State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL).

So as to ensure utilization of power generation projects at optimum level, the annual contracted capacity needs to be enhanced by the ministry of coal as more than 70 percent of power generated in the state, is coal based, Patel added.