Peak hour power supply short by 11.2% in April-Feb 2012

The country suffered a power deficit of over 8 per cent in April-February 2012. At the same time, peak hour electricity supply fell short by over 11 per cent during the same period.

There is an overall shortage of power in the country, Mr K.C. Venugopal, Minister of State in the Power Ministry, said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The shortage, Mr Venugopal said, varied from State-to-State on month-to-month and day-to-day basis depending upon demand and availability of power.

Shortage of electricity in rural, backward and tribal dominated areas is generally attributable to inadequacy of sub-transmission and distribution network or their healthiness. Electricity being a concurrent subject, responsibility for supply to different categories of consumers and areas lies with the State Government/power utilities concerned.

GAS AVAILABILITY

The Petroleum Ministry has said that no additional domestic gas is likely to be available till 2015-16, the Minister said, responding to another question.

A delegation of Association of Power Producers met the Prime Minister and Ministers of Power, Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Environment & Forest as well as Finance to discuss issues concerning the sector, he said.

The issues raised in the meetings included shortage of coal and gas supplies, signing of fuel supply agreement, speedy disposal of forest and environment clearance, removal of customs duty on coal imports, and improvement of financial health of discoms.

To supply coal to power projects commissioned in the 11{+t}{+h} Plan and getting commissioned up to 2014-15 in 12{+t}{+h} Plan, Coal India will sign the fuel supply agreements for full quantity of coal mentioned in the letter of assurance with power plants that have entered into long-term power purchase agreements with the Discoms. For projects that have been commissioned up to December 31, 2011, Coal India will sign the fuel supply agreements before March 31, 2012, he said.

To meet its commitment, Coal India may reduce coal meant for e-auction from 10 per cent to 7 per cent till the end of 12th Plan. In case of any shortfall in fulfilling its commitment under the fuel supply agreements from its own production, Coal India, will arrange for supplies through imports.