NEW DELHI, May 8: Amid differences over capacity addition targets, the Planning Commission is likely to meet the Power Ministry officials tomorrow to finalise the 12th Five-Year Plan for the power sector.
The ministry expects to add about 76,000 MW capacity during the 2012-17 period, but the Plan panel is pitching for over 90,000 MW, sources said.
The Planning Commission has called for a meeting with the Power Ministry officials to discuss the 12th Plan targets for the power sector on Wednesday, they added.
According to them, a final decision on the capacity addition issue as well as the overall Plan for the power sector for the five year period would most probably be decided on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to be chaired by Planning Commission Member B K Chaturvedi.
Against the backdrop of acute fuel shortages impacting electricity generation, the Power Ministry has pitched for capacity addition target of about 76,000 MW in the 12th Plan, sources said.
The country’s saw capacity addition of nearly 55,000 MW during the 11th Plan period ended in March, much lower than the revised target of 62,000 MW. Initially, the additional power generation capacity was projected at nearly 79,000 MW.
Thermal projects are expected to account for more than 50,000 MW of capacity addition during 2012-17 period and super critical capacity is likely to make up for about 50 per cent of them.
Units with 660 MW capacity and above, having greater efficiency, are referred to as super critical.
Last month, Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal had said that 52 super critical units totalling to 35,290 MW are under construction for commissioning during the 12th Plan.
Meanwhile, the Working Group on Power for formulation of the 12th Plan has estimated total fund requirement of Rs 13,72,580 crore for the power sector.
Of the total amount, power generation would need around Rs 6,38,600 crore, while the requirement for electricity distribution has been pegged at Rs 3,06,235 crore. (PTI)
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