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| Indian Power Sector has Grown Leaps and Bounds Since Independence | Interview with ABL Srivastava, CMD, NHPC Limited | ||||||||||
What is the overall
scenario of power sector in India?
The total installed capacity of India is
about 182 GW with the share of thermal, hydro, nuclear and renewables
being 65%, 21%, 3% and 11% respectively. The likely capacity addition
target during XI Plan (2007-12) period would be about 8000 MW through
hydro, 50,000 MW through thermal and 3400 MW through nuclear sources
taking the total installed capacity at the end of the plan to about
1,90, 000 MW. NHPC which is a premier power sector company of the
country has so far added about 5300 MW and is expected to add about 500
MW more by the end of the plan period.
The energy supply position in the country has improved during the year which is evident from the fact that the energy deficit which remained at 10% in the past months is now at 6% for the half year ending September 2011. The peaking deficit however, still hovers at around 13% which shows that the peaking power situation has not improved in our country. Therefore, the country needs some peaking power stations in the form of hydro power projects, pumped storage schemes etc in order to bridge this gap. How do you view the Indian power sector’s significant progress since independence? Indian power sector has grown leaps and
bounds since independence. The power generation which stood at a meager
1300 MW in 1947 now stands at over 1,80,000 MW. This manifold increase
in the installed capacity is a significant development for the country,
as this is amongst the most important infrastructure sectors in shaping
the growth and trajectory of our economy. Thermal power has lion’s
share in the present installed capacity, however, with growing
awareness and public concerns regarding global warming and
environmental factors are driving the future growth towards
environmentally friendly and cleaner alternative sources of energy to
reduce our carbon footprint. The development of our country’s vast
hydropower resources would not only help in providing the much-needed
power but also fulfill the objectives of energy security.
Where does Indian power sector stand compared to international power sector? The per capita consumption of
electricity is one of the indicators of prosperity and living standards
and has a major bearing on the economy of the country. The per
capita consumption of electricity of India stands at about 800 KWH as
compared to world average of about 2500 KWH. In this era of
globalization and increased competition, electricity plays a key role
in developing competitiveness and reliability of trade and
industry.
What are the major constraints for growth in this sector? As far as hydro power development is
concerned, most of the hydro potential in our country is spread in the
Himalayan regions which are fraught with difficult logistics, poor
roads & communication infrastructure. The inherent problems of
hydro sector include long time taken for obtaining environment &
forest clearances, land acquisition problems, R&R issues, law and
order problems etc., together with other challenges like remoteness of
sites, accessibility constraints, heavy rainfall, geological surprises,
power evacuation, dearth of trained manpower & executing agencies,
additional demands by the State Governments, Inter-State disputes etc.
which make hydropower development a formidable and daunting task.
What are the challenges and threats in the coming days? What is your strategy to overcome the situation? The construction of hydro projects is a
challenging task, which not only requires meticulous planning and huge
investments, but also involves specialized knowledge and skills to meet
the challenges. NHPC is evolving various strategies to address these
issues with a focus on accelerating hydro power development in the
country. We are minimizing the delay in project commissioning by
adopting effective project monitoring system which includes real time
monitoring of projects, regular video conferencing and instant decision
as far as practicable. Regular project review meeting are held to asses
criticalities in various projects and resolving issues pertaining to
contractors etc. Improvements are being made in contract clauses by
learning from the experience of completed projects. Strategic pursuance
is being made with State Govts/ local administration for ensuring
conducive environment in project areas.
What are the major thrust areas in the coming days? Elaborate NHPC’s future plans? At present NHPC has an installed
capacity of 5295 MW with 14 projects including 2 projects (1520 MW)
through its subsidiary NHDC Ltd.. In addition, presently we are
executing 10 projects of about 4100 MW capacity and further, 7 projects
of about 6000 MW capacity under various stages of clearances. In
addition to above, we are also targeting projects of about 3600 MW
through joint venture route. The major thrust area is to
commission the projects presently under execution at a faster pace.
NHPC expects to become a 10,000 MW company in next 5-7 years of
time.
What about “power for all by 2012”? The Govt. of India has an ambitious
mission of power for all by 2012. This comprehensive target involves
capacity addition, RE works through RGGVY and distribution reforms.
NHPC has been assigned the target of electrifying about 29,000 villages
and provide about 20.5 lac BPL connections under the RGGVY in 5 states
of India with over 27 districts. So far NHPC has completed
electrification works of about 24,000 villages and has established
about 17 lacs BPL connections.
How do you see the power sector in the year 2020? India is on a path of accelerated
development and in order to play a leading role in the near future,
energy security is of utmost importance. The reforms process and new
initiatives under the guidance of MOP, Govt. of India will be
instrumental in developing the power sector to fulfill the growing need
of the country’s energy requirements. Renewable energy sources like
hydropower, wind, tidal and solar would be of prime importance in the
future keeping in view the depleting natural resources.
What about recent activities of NHPC? NHPC is committed toward the development
of hydro power in the country. Some of NHPC’s recent activities
include:
The government has taken several steps
to expedite hydro power development. The new Hydro Policy 2008 of GoI
provides a level playing field for all developers. Some of the
remarkable features of the policy includes providing 100 units of
energy per month to each PAFs for 10 years from COD and also provide 1%
additional free power towards creation of Local Area Development Fund
(LADF), provide assistance in implementation of rural electrification
in vicinity of project area etc. Supplying reliable power to
rural households in villages located within a radius of 5 km of power
stations of central PSUs is also in line with GoI policy. In
addition to above, if a single-window clearance procedure is evolved,
it may further help in reducing the overall time required for
clearances. The fact also remains that water is a state subject under
the Constitution. Hence, the outlook of the states with hydro power
potential assumes paramount importance for the sector’s future.
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