‘Coal shortage to continue in the near term’
SHIMLA: State governments have resolved to electrify every household in the country by December.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and Renewable Energy, R K Singh, said on Tuesday, “We will achieve our target of electrifying every household in this country by December 31. All of us are clear that we will achieve our target.” He was addressing a conference of power and renewable energy ministers of states and union territories here.
In his opening remarks, Singh said States have already given written assurances to meet the household electrification deadlines. Of the 3.60 crore houses yet to be electrified, 78 lakh households have been electrified till now.
“Most of the un-electrified homes are in larger states. Uttar Pradesh alone has 1.50 crore unelectrified houses,” he said.
Coal supply mismatch
On the coal supply issue, Singh said the problem of a coal supply mismatch will continue in the near term.
“There is an acute shortage of coal and this is very evident because the demand for power is growing. We have already written to states allowing them to import coal as per their requirements. Coal will continue to be a problem for 2-3 years till new mines are opened,” Singh said, adding that the mines will be opened as and when Coal India gets environment clearances.
Clean energy promotion
According to officials in the know, among the resolutions proposed at the conference are sweeping regulations for supporting renewable energy through waiver of inter-state transmission charges and aggressive timeline for auction of clean energy projects. The resolution proposes that States/UTs will ensure waiver of intra-state transmission charges for solar and wind power.
The proposal also notes that States/UTs will prepare month-wise plans for bidding of solar and wind power capacity in 2018-2019 to achieve 175 GW renewable energy target by 2022.
States/UTs will ensure RPO compliance strictly and RPO trajectory will be aligned as per long term RPO trajectory up to year 2022 as notified by the Power Ministry.
States/UTs will have to submit proposals for solar parks under additional 20,000 MW capacity allocation to meet enhanced target of 40,000 MW under the Solar Park Scheme.
The reporter is in Shimla on an invitation from the Power Ministry
Source: thehindubusinessline
