‘Identifying sites in J&K for new power plants’ | India News

How does the government intend to ensure that power supply keeps pace with demand?We are constantly expanding our generation. Earlier, the focus was on increasing thermal capacity. The priority now is renewable energy, especially solar energy. Since solar power is not available round the clock, we are focusing on storage solutions. Nuclear power will also contribute. Current capacity is around 8GW with 12GW in the pipeline. Our long-term goal is 100GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, and states are encouraged to build at least one project. Renewable energy can come from thermal, nuclear or gas. Gas is expensive and therefore not a priority. In 2014-15, the demand-supply gap was around 5.5%. By 2024-25, it has come down to 0.1%, largely due to technical factors.Developed countries are under pressure to shut down coal-fired power plants. What will be India’s policy?Our priority is clean and green energy. Grid stability requires a continuous supply, and thermal power provides that. All thermal projects that could be developed until 2032 are already planned. About 20,000 MW capacity is under development. After that, new thermal plants may not be needed as India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Existing thermal plants will continue to operate until the end of their life cycle, but the overall share will gradually decline as renewable energy expands.

How will gas shortage affect power generation?I don’t want to comment because it’s an evolving situation.The discom made a profit of around Rs 2,700 crore However, the sector still has large debts and accumulated losses. How will this be addressed?Earlier, losses increased as duties did not keep pace with expenditure. The government often announced free or subsidized electricity, so the cost of supply was higher than the tariff. In some cases, the gap reaches Rs 1 per unit. Gradually, states have started to address this problem. AT&C losses have come down to around 16% from 23-24% 10 years ago. Removed invalid connections and improved billing system. Despite this improvement, accumulated losses remain at around Rs 6.7 lakh crore. Earlier, the Udaya scheme transferred discom loans to state governments. A similar approach is being considered with reforms such as partial privatisation.Which states are taking steps towards privatization?Gujarat has started moving in that direction, Haryana is exploring the option and UP is considering more private participation. Haryana has proposed a model where a separate company would manage the agri-agri-power connection. Agricultural feeders will be separated and power accounting will become clearer.Farmers’ organizations protested in some places against privatization. What message does the Center want to convey to them to alleviate their concerns?Farmers need reliable electricity mainly for irrigation. Whether the supply comes from a government company or a private company does not affect the opera-tion. Subsidy will continue.There is talk of having two discoms in the same area so that consumers benefit from competition. Considering the idea of ​​multiple suppliers?Yes, it is being tested. Power quality is indistinguishable because once power enters the network, it is mixed. The system will work somewhat like the telecom sector, where customers choose their service provider. The physical network will remain the same. Wires and meters will not change. Only the electricity supplier behind the network will change, and digital systems will track how much electricity each supplier provides. Consumers will be able to select their suppliers based on tariffs. The concept is still in its early stages and requires legal and policy approval before implementation.When all homes will be installed smart meters?n Initially there was resistance, especially in rural areas, but people are beginning to realize its benefits. With prepaid smart meters, companies also get paid in advance. If these are widely adopted, around Rs 1 lakh crore could flow into the system as advance payments, improving liquidity in the power sector and reducing the need for borrowing. Some states already offer incentives for prepaid meters.After suspension of Indus water deal, will new water projects come in Kashmir?Some plants are already operational, and desilting is underway to restore reservoir capacity. Work on three-four stalled projects has also started. Additional projects are being planned, and site identification is underway. There are proposals to divert water through canals or tunnels to Punjab and further to Rajasthan, Haryana, UP and Delhi. There are two-three possible routes; We have to see which one can be built quickly and will be financially viable. One that is proposed through the city of Jammu may not be possible. Another alignment around the city is being explored.