Power capacity addition nearly doubles in April-July 2014

During April-July 2013, power capacity of 2,512 MW was added

Power generation capacity addition almost doubled to 4,998 MW during April and July this year compared to year-ago period, an official report said.

During the first four months of the last financial year (April-July 2013) 2,512 MW of power was added, which rose to 98.98% in the same period this year at 4,998.44 MW, latest by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said.

CEA provides assistance to the Ministry of Power in all technical and economic matters.

In July alone this year close to 770 MW capacity was commissioned.

One thermal power project of 700 MW capacity was commissioned at Rajpura in Punjab and the 68.67 MW unit of the Rampur hydro-electric power plant of SJVNL in Himachal Pradesh also commenced operations during the month, the official report said.

During April-June 2014 4,731.1 MW of thermal and 267.34 MW of hydro power was added, as against 2,380 MW and 132 MW in the same period, last year, respectively.

According to the official data the total installed capacity of the country stood at 2,50,256.99 MW, as on July 31 2014.

Meanwhile, the peak power deficit or shortfall in supply of electricity when demand is maximum, was down to 5.1% between April and July this year as against 6.3% in the same period, last year.

The total electricity demand during the first nine months of the current financial year (2014-15) was 1,48,166 MW of which 1,40,633 MW leaving a gap of 7,533 MW.