Guj to encourage private players in power transmission

Gujarat may open doors for private players in power transmission sector. With a view to strengthening power transmission in Gujarat, the state government is likely to encourage private participation in the transmission sector.

With the entry of private players as independent power producers, there will be a need to connect them to the state grid and synchronise their power plants efficiently, say government sources.

Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation (GETCO), state-owned transmission utility will accord high investments in the transmission sector by availing funds from international and national funding agencies and other institutional sources.

“GETCO will allow private sector units to set up transmission lines and equipment for or on behalf of GUVNL,” said a senior government official. An official announcement to this effect is likely to be made shortly.

 

Gujarat’s present installed capacity is over 9,000 Mw against the unrestricted power demand of 11,500 Mw, a deficit of 2,500 Mw.

According to the 16th Electric Power Survey (EPS) carried out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the demand is likely to grow to over 14,000 Mw by 2012.

Estimates suggest Gujarat would require an installed capacity of 18,700 Mw by 2012 to meet the growing power demand. The state government has planned to add 11,164 Mw by then.

In an interview to Business Standard earlier, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had said the government will focus on power transmission in a big way.

Leading companies including Essar, Adani, Torrent, and government-owned companies like GUVNL, are already on way to creating power infrastructure to generate additional 11,164 Mw.

This would take the total installed capacity of the state to 20,000 Mw by 2012. However, according to the EPS survey, the state's peak demand would be 18,500 Mw by 2017.