An empowered group of ministers (EGoM) has agreed to consider the power ministry’s recommendation for allocation of 14.5 mmscmd gas for four more 11th Plan private projects, including Reliance Power’s Samalkot, pending assessment about their preparedness for timely commissioning.
This is in addition to the initial requirement of 15.59 mmscmd gas raised by the power ministry for six projects, including Lanco’s Kodanpalli and GMR’s Vemagiri, which have a combined capacity of 4,066 mw. As per an assessment by the central electricity authority (CEA), these projects should be commissioned in the current plan.
The power ministry put up the proposal for allocation of additional 14.5 mmscmd gas from the K-G basin in the ministerial panel’s meeting on July 28. The ministry argued that these developers have already placed orders for equipment supply and claim preparedness to commission projects by March 2012, though CEA is yet to conduct its assessment.
Following that, the power ministry was asked to obtain CEA’s assessment so that the EGoM could take a final view in this matter.