Economy Survey 2013: India suffered peak power shortage of 9% in 2007-12
India witnessed a peak power shortage of 9 per cent during the five years ending 2012 when over 50,000 MW new generation capacity was created, Economic Survey 2013 said today.
"During the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12), nearly 55,000 MW of new generation capacity was created. Yet there continues to be a peak shortage of 9 per cent," it said.
Peak power shortage is shortfall in generation capacity when electricity consumption is maximum.
The survey said the resources currently allocated to energy supply are not sufficient for narrowing the gap between energy needs and energy availability.
One of the key challenges remain resolving the energy bottlenecks. Further, the country's excessive reliance on imported crude oil make it imperative to have an optimal energy mix that will allow it to achieve its long-run goal of sustainable development.
As on March, 2011 country's estimated coal reserves were at about 286 billion tonnes, lignite at 81 billion tonnes, crude oil at 757 million tonnes and natural gas 1,241 billion cubic metre (BCM).
Electricity generation by power utilities during 2012-13 was targeted to go up by 6.05 per cent to 930 billion units. The growth in power generation during April to December, 2012 was 4.55 per cent as compared to about 9.33 per cent during April-December, 2011.
The estimated hydro potential is about 1,45,000 MW. The total potential for renewable power generation from various sources other than large hydro projects stood at 89,760 MW.
Import dependence on crude oil is projected at 78 per cent while that in coal
Be the first to comment.
