Power Generation Capacity Exceeds Target

The first two months of the current financial year (2001-02) have seen addition of 165.50 mw power generation capacity in the country as against the target of 105.50 mw.

The government has planned to commission 61 power generating units with a total capacity of 4,764.70 mw in 2001-02. The target comprises 1,536.20 mw hydroelectric capacity (23 units) and 3,228.50 mw thermal capacity (38 units).

According to the central electricity authority (CEA) figures, 1,365 mw will be added in the central sector, 1,988.20 mw in the state sector, and 2,338.30 mw in the private sector.

In the central sector, 655 mw generation capacity has to be added from hydro and 710 mw from thermal. The state sector is targeting to add 795 mw from hydro and 2,252.30 mw from thermal, and in the private sector, hydro sector is slated to add 86 mw and thermal 2,252.30 mw.

During the first two months of 2001-02, the additional generation capacity of 60 mw has come in the state sector. The rest 105 mw added during this period has been thermal capacity in the state sector.

According to CEA, total installed power generation capacity in the country on May 31 this year was 1,01,865.91 mw. Of which, hydro capacity stood at 25,201.78 mw, thermal 72,464.17 mw, nuclear 2,860 mw, and wind 1,339 mw. The thermal capacity comprises coal-based 61,025.88 mw, gas-based 10,567.40 mw and diesel-based 870.89 mw.

The maximum generation capacity in the country is in the western region with 31,100.52 mw. In the northern and the southern regions, the generation capacity stood at 27,465 mw and 25,383.02 mw respectively.

The eastern region has 16,070 mw capacity and the north-east 1,802.41 mw.