Centre targets capacity addition of 100,000 MW each in 12th Plan and 13th Plan, says Power Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde

The Centre has targeted capacity addition of 100,000 MW each in the 12 th Plan (2012-17) and 13 th Plan (2017-22), said the Union Power Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde.Addressing the India Nuclear Energy Summit 2010 here on Friday, he said about 65,000 MW was slated to go online in the 12 th Plan. Of this, nearly 50 per cent of thermal plants would be subcritical while the balance would have supercritical technology.In the 13 th Plan, the Centre would ensure that only supercritical technology came up as it was about two per cent more efficient than subcritical and consumed less coal, besides having a lower carbon footprint.

Hydel power

Over 1.48 lakh MW of hydel power capacity had been identified and despite doubts of environmental clearances, he was confident the projects would be set up. The Ministry was concentrating on modernisation, renovation and life extension of old power stations.Like all emerging economies, India offered exciting growth opportunities, especially in the energy sector.

“Many of these opportunities will come from the energy sector where we have several schemes in operation. The New Electricity Policy is committed to providing electricity to all households by 2012 and plans to rapidly increase power generation. Nuclear energy plays a vital role in this as it is clean, fast and sustainable,” he said.Later, while speaking to reporters, Mr Shinde conceded that environment issues remained and these were being coordinated with the Environment Ministry.

Dr Srikumar Banerjee, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, and Dr R.K. Sinha, Director, BARC, spoke on the roadmap ahead and the addition of 40,000 MW by way of light water reactors.

While the progress of indigenous technology would continue to supplement capacity augmentation, the more important task was to evolve a closed fuel cycle so that resources were conserved for the longer term.