Power Ministry Calls For Greater Capacity Utilisation

In a note circulated to all state governments, the ministry has emphasised on reduction in specific and auxiliary oil consumption, besides better capacity utilisation.

It has pointed out that the target of an annual 3 per cent PLF improvement, set at the power ministers conference in January 1993, had not been met by most of the state sector thermal power stations.

The national average PLF in 1992-93 had been 55.3 per cent. It rose to 63 per cent in 1995-96, mainly due to a good performance by power plants outside the state sector.

The average PLF of state-owned power plants, which was 54.1 per cent in 1992-93, has registered a non-too-impressive rise to 58 per cent last year. The auxiliary consumption and specific oil consumption by state-owned power plants, according to the power ministry, are much higher than the technically achievable levels.

The ministry has advised better preventive maintenance and a proper coal linkage to achieve a higher PLF and reduce auxiliary and specific oil consumption.

Maximising utilisation of the existing capacity will reduce the need for fresh investment. Considering the need for a huge increase in generation in the coming years, the states must look into this aspect, the note added.

An additional 100,000 mw of generation will be needed over the next 10 years to meet the growing demand for power. This requires a capital investment of Rs 400,000 crore at current prices.