YEAR ENDER 2014 - POWER
With an objective to provide 24x7 power across the country by
2019, the government has taken several landmark decisions for generation of
power, strengthening of transmission and distribution, separation of feeder and
metering of power to consumers. Special focus was given to north east by giving
approval to the north eastern power system improvement project and
comprehensive scheme for strengthening of transmission and distribution in the
north eastern states. In the reform and restructuring front, various amendments
are being brought in the Electricity Act and Tariff policy. For the power
sector, the methodology for e-auction of coal blocks will be completely
transparent , encourages greater competition and efficiency and optimizes power
tariffs.
Comprehensive state-specific action plans for 24x7 power to
all homes is being prepared in partnership with respective states, encompassing
generation, transmission and distribution. The power
ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government under its 'Power for all' initiative that
aims to cover the entire state by October 2016. Plans for Delhi & Rajasthan are already complete and ready for
implementation. For other states are being readied.
The
commissioning of one 765kV Raichur-Solapur transmission line by POWERGRID in
December,2013 and synchronous interconnection of Southern Regional (SR) grid
with the rest of the grid was achieved, accomplishing the long cherished
dream of ‘One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency’. The second circuit of 765kV
Raichur – Solapur transmission line implemented through Private Sector
Participation has been completed on 30th June 2014 with
active guidance from POWERGRID. With both the 765 kV transmission lines
now in operation, the interconnection has helped achieving a pan-India
synchronous grid of 249GW and one of the largest synchronous operating grids in
the world.
A National Smart Grid
Mission is going to be launched to address key issues of Smart Grid Initiatives
on a large scale in the country and to make the Indian Power infrastructure
cost effective, responsive and reliable. A 20 year Prespective Plan for
integrated inter-regional , inter-state and intra-state transmission network
for the country as whole has been formulated. This will be a crucial backbone
for the vision of 24x7 power for all homes in India.
The
details of the major initiatives of Ministry of Power to achieve “24 x7 Power
for all” in the country are as follows:
1. Deendayal
Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana:
Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), announced in the budget 2014-15
envisages feeder separation, strengthening of sub-transmission &
distribution network including metering at all levels for the rural areas. The
major components of the scheme are : feeder separation ,strengthening of
sub-transmission and distribution network, metering at all levels, including
input points, feeders and distribution transformers, micro grid and off grid
distribution network and rural electrification to complete already sanctioned
projects. This scheme will help in round the clock power to rural households
and adequate power to agricultural consumers. The estimated cost of the scheme
is Rs.43, 033 crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support of Rs
33,453 crore from GOI over the entire implementation period.
2.
Integrated Power Development Scheme :
The integrated
power development scheme envisages strengthening of sub-transmission and
distribution network including metering at all levels in the urban areas. The
major components of the project include strengthening of
sub-transmission and distribution network, metering, IT application-ERP and
customer care services, provisioning of solar panels and completion of the
ongoing works of the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms
programme (R-APDRP). The estimated cost of the project is Rs 32,612 crore .
3. North
Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project:
The
North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSlP) is for the six
States of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland for
strengthening of the Intra State Transmission and Distribution System at an
estimated cost of Rs.5111.33 crore including capacity building expenditure of
Rs.89 crore. The scheme is to be implemented with the assistance of World Bank
loan and the budget of MoP. Implementation of this project will create a
reliable State power grid and improve its connectivity to the upcoming load
centres, and thus extend the benefits of the grid connected power to all the
consumers. This project is a major step towards meeting the national objective
of "Power to All" through enhancement in access of consumers to grid
connected power supply through improving its availability and reliability,
thereby facilitating inclusive growth. This shall also increase the per capita
power consumption of these States, which is lagging behind the average national
consumption and shall contribute to the economic development of the
North-Eastern Region.
Another major decision taken by the government was the “Comprehensive
Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission & Distribution System in Arunachal
Pradesh & Sikkim”. Presently, only 5 out of
20 districts of Arunachal Pradesh are connected to transmission network at
132/220 KV. The project is to be implemented within 48 months from the first
fund release to PGCIL.
4.Regulatory Reforms:
The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014
was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal
and New& Renewable Energy Shri. Piyush Goyal on the 19th
December ,2014. The
proposed amendments in the Electricity Act ,2003 will usher in much needed
further reforms in the power sector. The amendments will also promote
competition, efficiency in operations and improvement in quality of supply of
electricity in the country resulting in capacity addition and ultimate benefit
to the consumers.
5.
Advisory
Group for Integrated Development of Power, Coal & New Renewable Energy:
The
Advisory Group has presented its final report, which covers contemporary issues
and challenges in respect of the Ministries of Power, Coal & New &
Renewable Energy.
6. Independent
Company for Power Reforms (POSOCO)
The
government has decided to set up of Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO)
as an Independent Government Company. In the process, the institutional
framework for an independent, secure and reliable power system operation entity
at the national level has been put in place as mandated under the Electricity
Act 2003. POSOCO
operates the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) and Regional Load Despatch
Centres (RLDCs) which are also responsible for operating the vibrant
electricity market working in the country. POSOCO is also designated as the
nodal agency for major reforms in the power sector such as the Renewable Energy
Certificate (REC) Mechanism, transmission pricing, short term open access in
transmission, Deviation Settlement Mechanism, Power System Development Fund
(PSDF), etc.
7.
Rs 200 crore for strengthening power transmission system in Delhi:
The Government
has approved a Scheme and sanctioned an amount of Rs. 200 crore for the power
transmission system strengthening in Delhi during 2014-15. The implementation
of the scheme will enhance the reliability of power supply to Consumers in
Delhi areas.
8. Important
projects - dedicated to Nation or foundation stone laid by Prime Minister
Shri.Narendra Modi :
·
240
MW URI-II Power Station of NHPC located in Baramulla district of Jammu and
Kashmir. It is a run of the river scheme on the Jhelum River built at a cost
of around Rs. 2300 crore
·
44
MW Chutak hydroelectric Project located in Kargil District of Jammu &
Kashmir. The project is a run-off-river scheme on the river Suru, to generate
216 MU.
·
45
MW Nimoo-Bazgo Hydro electric Project. This project is a Run of the River
scheme to harness the potential of river Indus in Leh district of Ladakh
region. The project is designed to generate 239 MUs of energy.
·
Laid foundation stone for the first power transmission line from
Leh to Kargil and Kargil to
Srinagar. This 375 KM transmission line with four 220/33kV Sub-stations at
Drass, Kargil, Leh and Khalsti will connect Leh/ Kargil area in
Ladakh with Northern Region Grid at 220kV level.
·
Raichur-Sholapur 765 kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Maharashtra. This transmission line has established
the infrastructure for transfer of power from the regional grids of Northern,
Eastern, Western and North-eastern regions to Southern region .
·
Mouda Super Thermal Power Project Stage-I (1000 MW) situated in
Nagpur Distt. of Maharashtra. The project will have
ultimate capacity of 2320 MW on completion of 1320 MW ( 2X660MW) Stage-II.
·
765 kV Ranchi-Dharamjaygarh-Sipat transmission line in Jharkhand
and initiated the commencement of work on 3x660 MW North Karanpura Super
Thermal Power Project. This line is the first 765kV inter-regional link between
Eastern Region and Western Region.
·
The 110 MW unit II of Muzzafarpur Thermal Power station (Stage I )
of Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited and the first 660 MW unit of NTPC`s Barh
Super Thermal Power Station commenced commercial generation with the
declaration of Commercial Operation by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of
State ( IC) for Power, Coal, New& Renewable Energy, in Bihar. The project has 2 X 195 MW capacity
under construction at present. Bihar will get 484MW from the project (220 MW
from stage-I and 264 MW from stage II) which is 80% of the project capacity.
9. Transmission :
·
Ministry
of Environment and Forests modified the guidelines for laying of transmission
lines enabling all private transmission developers to be treated at par with
the public sector developers in respect of compensatory afforestation.
·
Nine
Transmission schemes worth Rs.12,272 crore have been approved to be implemented
under Tariff Based competitive bidding.
·
Operationalization
of Power System Development Fund (PSDF) of around Rs.7,500 crore for
installation of protection systems in the power grid.
10. Electricity
Distribution:
A National Smart Grid Mission is going
to be launched to address key issues of Smart Grid Initiatives on a large scale
in the country and to make the Indian Power infrastructure cost effective,
responsive and reliable.
11 . Energy Efficiency:
·
Government
has approved the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) in
August 2014 with an outlay of Rs.775 crore. NMEEE covers - Perform, Achieve and
Trade framework for energy efficiency in industrial units; Venture Capital Fund
and Partial Risk Guarantee Fund for funding energy efficiency projects; and
Super Efficient Electrical Appliances (SEEP).
·
Guidelines
for Energy Efficient Residential Apartments issued in August 2014.
·
Energy
Efficiency Rating Programme for Diesel Generator sets and hospital buildings
notified in August 2014.
12.
LED
Replacement:
All the
Ministries/Departments of Government of India, including attached/subordinated
office have been requested to replace CFL/Incandescent bulls with LED bulbs.
Ministry of Finance has been requested to issue directives to all departments
of the Government to procure LED bulbs instead of CFLs/ICLs for their
procurements. Similarly, DGS&D has also been requested to include LED bulbs
on their stock so as to ensure availability for Government procurement. After
the recent devastating Hudhud cyclone in Vizakhapattanam, Energy Efficiency
Services Limited has replaced 91,000 street lights with LED lights.
13. Approval for signing of "SAARC Framework Agreement for
Energy Cooperation :
The agreement was signed among the SAARC Member States during the
18th SAARC Summit held at Kathmandu, Nepal on 26-27 November, 2014. The Agreement is expected to improve
the power availability in the entire SAARC region. It would facilitate
integrated operation of the regional power grid.
14. Signing of
pact with Nepal:
An
Agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the Republic of
India on “Electric Power Trade Cross – Border Transmission Interconnection and
Grid connectivity” was signed by the Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Government
of Nepal and Secretary (Power) Government of India on 21.10.2014 at Kathmandu
in Nepal.
RM/ND