WBSEDCL aims Rs 7,500 cr busines in 2008-09

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) today said it was aiming at a total revenue of Rs 7,500 crore and a surplus of between Rs 500 and Rs 600 crore during the current fiscal.

"We had achieved a revenue of about Rs 6,500 crore and earned a surplus of Rs 131 crore during 2007-08. In 2008-09, the total revenue is expected to be Rs 7,500 crore with a surplus of Rs 500 to Rs 600 crore, if coal supply to power plants remains smooth," WBSEDCL Chairman M K De said here.

Interacting with the members of the Merchant Chamber of Commerce, De said the projected power export could have been possible then the profit would have been another Rs 400 crore more.

The West Bengal State Transmission Company posted a profit of Rs 78 crore from a revenue of Rs 436 crore. The company was projecting a turnover of Rs 446 crore during 2008-09 financial year.

"We have been able to export only 895 million units as against projection of over 5,000 million units during 2007-08. This is due to failure of the new power plants commissioned during the year," De said.

During the year, the West Bengal government had projected to add 1,570 MW. However, during the current year so far, only 1,000 MW capacity has been added to the system.

Owing to failure to meet the targeted export due to commissioning of new plants and shortage of coal, WBSEDCL has slashed power export projection to 2,600 million units.

"Given the coal supply situation, we do not hope to meet even this target," De said.