Power sector grapples with demand-supply mismatch

Power sector continues to battle with the demand and supply gap as the requirement of electricity overshoots capacity addition.

"The electricity generation in the country falls short of the total requirement primarily due to growth of capacity addition not being commensurate with the growth in demand of power," Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told the Lok Sabha.

The government is taking steps to bridge the gap between demand and supply of power in the country by rigorous monitoring of on-going power projects for achieving the XIth Plan Period (2007-12) target of 78,700 Mw.

Development of ultra mega power projects of 4,000 Mw each is also part of the government's initiatives, he said.

Power utilities are also importing coal to meet the shortfall in domestic supply.

Both public and private power companies would import 48 million tonnes of coal from Australia, Indonesia and South Africa in the next financial year (2010-11).

The projected coal requirement by the end of the current plan period is expected to touch 700 million tonnes and the demand from power companies is likely to be at 550 million tonnes.