Sonowal discusses energy programme with IGEN

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today held a discussion with Indo-German Energy Programme officials here today to boost the state's power sector.
IGEN is German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's initiative for carrying out viable energy security programmes in developing countries.
As providing stable power supply and reducing loss in transmission are prime objectives of his government, Sonowal said German expertise and technical know how in this regard would be of immense value for ensuring electrification in rural areas of the state.
Explaining the functioning model of IGEN, its Director Winfried Damm said the India now consumes more than 6,600 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy per year, but its per capita electricity consumption of around 1,000 kWh is less than one seventh of that of industrialised countries.

This creates considerable challenges in all areas of society and in rural and urban regions, he said.
IGEN also offered to set up one photovoltaic thermal project in Guwahati for demonstrating the effectiveness of the plant to which then chief minister readily agreed and directed Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia to identify a suitable location for it.