The Planning Commission on Tuesday indicated that the country is going to miss the capacity target of 78,700 mw by the end of the 11th Plan period. Instead, the actual capacity addition will be of the order of 60,000 mw. At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it was said that even the addition of 60,000 mw will be at a higher side, compared to the 8th, 9th and 10th five year plans.
Power minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who was present at the meeting, told FE, ?The slippages are bound to happen. It was linked to inadequate fuel supply. In addition to 60,000 mw which has now been projected, there will be capacity addition of 12,000 mw by captive power projects, which has not been included in the power ministry?s target of 78,700 mw. Of the 12,000 mw of captive power projects, 2700 mw has been commissioned and the balance is under construction. Thus, the actual capacity addition will be 72,000 mw by the end of the 11th Plan.? Shinde said he has made a strong pitch for additional gas, coal and availability of rail rakes so that further capacity addition can be expedited.
According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) 16,395 mw (20%) capacity is already commissioned till date while 64,215 mw (80%)is under construction (orders placed and work is in progress). Against the target of 14,000 mw from renewables, 5,482 mw has been commissioned as on March 31.
Coal linkages have been provided to all thermal projects. A capacity of 14,507 mw is scheduled for commissioning during 2009-10. Besides, projects aggregating to 32,000 mw capacity for commissioning during the 12th Plan are also under execution.
CEA has observed that the delay in 11th Plan projects was largely due to delays in placement of orders?mainly civil works and balance of plants, delay and non-sequential supply of material for the main plant and BoPs, shortage of skilled manpower for erection and commissioning and contractual disputes. Moreover, the inadequate deployment of construction machinery, shortage of fuel (gas & nuclear), delays in land acquisition and delays in creation of infrastructure facilities have added to the already existing slippages.