Kolkata: There has been surplus of power in Bengal, which can help set a roadmap for new industrialization across the state, said speakers at the the second edition of MCCI’s East India Energy Forum, held on the theme of ‘the evolving energy landscape’ here on Wednesday.
Statistics up to April this year evinced that the total power generation capacity in Bengal was 10,568 MW, of which around 6,607 MW came under the state utilities, 2,789 MW under the private sector and Central utilities. “Of the total installed power capacity, 8,697 MW was contributed by thermal power and 1,396 MW by hydropower and 474 MW by renewable power,” said Vishal Jhajharia, president of MCCI.
“Bengal has been incorporating latest technologies to reduce transmission and distribution losses and is likely to add over 2,000 MW of power, including 300 MW solar power, in the next five years,” added Jhajharia.
Debasish U Banerjee, MD (distribution), CESC, told TOI, “In Kolkata, domestic users’ demand for electricity has jacked up almost 5% in the past five years. When it comes to commercial sectors, the demand has remained more or less unchanged.”
Coal imports were pegged at 213 MT last year, while it is likely to be 200 MT, despite an additional production of 50 MT by CIL, according to V K Arora, chief mentor, KCT Coalsales.
R P Ritolia, ex-CMD, Central Coal Fields, and advisor to IPCL, agreed that thermal power generation would spiral up in the near future. “Financing has remained a great challenge… If the Niti Aayog strategies are implemented properly, much of the problems would be resolved,” he said.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
