CEA report shocks Punjab

Friday, 12/10/2012

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=52275&boxid=58637&uid=&dat=2012-10-12

Patiala : Punjab faces a power shortage of 18.3 per cent and a peak load shortage of 33.7 per cent for 2012-13 as per the annual report of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The CEA in its load generation balance report (LGBR) for 2012-13 has estimated power demand of Punjab as 48,881 million units (MU) against estimated supply of 39,918 MU. The maximum peak load demand has been estimated as 10,890 MW against the availability of 7,216 MW.

The report covers the month-wise anticipated energy requirement and availability as well as peak demand and availability for the year 2012-13. This has been finalised after detailed discussions with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL). This does not include likely short-term purchases by the state.

In the coming months power shortage will be 26.7 per cent in October, 22.4 per cent in January and 23.9 per cent in February. The maximum peak load shortage will be 18 per cent in February followed by 17.4 per cent in October.

Punjab will not be adding any generation capacity in the current financial year. The generating capacity addition of 17,956 MW has been considered in the LGBR for 2012-13 for the whole country. This capacity addition of 17,956 MW comprises 15,154 MW of thermal, 802 MW of hydro and 2,000 MW of nuclear power stations.

The generation from new units considering their commissioning schedule has also been included in the estimates of the generation targets while finalising the all-India annual generation target of 930 billion units. The studies carried out for anticipated power supply position for the year 2012-13, indicate that there would be energy shortage of 9.3 percent and peak shortage of 10.6 per cent in the country.

The energy availability in each state is worked out on the basis of generation from generating plants owned by the state, share of power from the common projects, allocation of firm power from Central generating stations and allocation from unallocated quota of power from Central generating stations as per the allocation in vogue. Punjab has 1,861 MW of firm allocation from Central projects and another 100 MW as non-firm power.

In the first six months of current financial year ending September 30, 920 MW Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant generated 3,871 million units with plant load factor (PLF) of 95.81 per cent. At 1,260 MW, the half yearly generation of Ropar thermal plant was 4,808 MU with PLF of 86.98 per cent which is slightly less than the corresponding generation figures of 4,811 MU with 86.94 per cent PLF.