Coal and finance the two major challenges facing power sector: R K Singh

Power minister says demand for power will continue to rise; current per capita consumption of 1,200 units is expected to grow 2-3 times to come at par with international consumption

Union Minister for Power R K Singh said that the power sector in the country has been facing two major challenges -- availability of coal and finance for the new projects.

“New power plants are facing problem of finance and initiatives have to be taken for (boosting) bank lending,” Singh said, while inaugurating Indian Power Stations 2019, a two-day international operations and maintenance conference organised annually by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). Coal production in the country should also increase to meet shortages, the minister added.

The minister indicated that demand for power, which is already increasing, will continue to rise in