Grid failures, fuel scarcity spell gloom for power biz in 2012

Persisting fuel scarcity, inter-ministerial turf wars and bleeding distribution companies roiled the sector this year, in addition to the ignominy of witnessing one of the world's worst electricity grid failures that took place in July.

Amid sufferings of common man and businesses alike, the country saw change of guard at the Power Ministry twice. While Sushilkumar Shinde made way for Veerappa Moily as grids snapped across the country, Moily was also soon replaced by young Jyotiraditya Scindia in a major cabinet reshuffle.

Scindia has his plate full of woes, but his initial days hold out promise for the jittery sector.

As another year dawns, Indian power sector would look for better times, just like the projects awaiting adequate fuel supplies.

A few silver linings during 2012 were a proposed Rs 1.9 lakh crore debt restructuring package for ailing discoms and fast-paced efforts to set up islanding system for power transmission in the national capital.

This was despite the year beginning with a promise of reform for power, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and top Indian industrialists the likes of Tatas and Ambanis, deliberated on ways to rejuvenate the sector. Notwithstanding a flurry of meetings and committees, coal still remains as scarce as electricity is for unlit villages.

On July 30, Northern transmission grid snapped and paralysed normal life

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