Additional power target could be 100,000 MW for 12th Plan

The government may fix the power capacity addition target at around 100,000 MW for the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2012-2017).

The Power Ministry had proposed a capacity addition target of 100,000 MW to the Planning Commission, which is likely to accept the proposal.

"Final call would be taken by National Development Council, it may be between 90,000 MW and 100,000 MW," B K Chaturvedi, Member Planning Commission, told reporters on the sidelines of the India Energy Congress.

The government had set a target of 78,577 MW during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, which was curtailed to 62,000 MW by the Planning Commission in its mid-term review citing coal shortage and environment reasons.

According to sources, the Power Ministry may only be able to achieve up to 52,000 MW capacity addition by March, 2012.