|
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, recently claimed that the state would be self reliant in power over the next four years, and even supply power to others. With projects having a combined capacity of over 69,200 MW under various stages of implementation, the CM’s claims do not look like tall ones.
As per Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Madhya Pradesh had 14,465 MW of installed power capacity as on 30 June, 2014. In the same month, the state had peak shortage of power supply of 314 MW. So far in this fiscal, Madhya Pradesh has had a peak power shortage of 314 MW in June, 526 MW in May, and four MW in April. Thus, in terms of power supply position, we can say that Madhya Pradesh is almost or already self sufficient and well on the way to becoming a power surplus state. And with several power projects coming up in the state, it won’t be long.
Madhya Pradesh owes about 70 per cent of its installed power capacity to thermal power projects. At present, the state has about 56 coal and gas-based projects under implementation, having a combined capacity of over 60,660 MW. Most of these thermal power projects are still in the planning stage and thus are unlikely to be completed over the next three to four years. Take for example, GMR Bundelkhand Energy’s 1980 MW power project in Tikamgarh district. The project was announced in 2010 but is still in the planning stage due to coal linkage issues.
On the bright side, a few of MP’s mega thermal projects are partially completed and may well be fully commissioned by the next fiscal. These include 6 x 660 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project. Unit-IV of the project commenced power generation recently, while Unit-V has achieved boiler light up.
There are also about 95 hydel power projects in the state. These include Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation’s 400 MW project coming up in the West Nimar district of Madhya Pradesh.
Renewable Energy
In terms of renewable energy, Madhya Pradesh still lags behind with an installed capacity of 887 MW as against 5,630 MW in Maharashtra, and 4,430 MW in Gujarat. However, in the last few years, several private promoters are setting their eyes on the state, especially in the solar energy segment. Earlier this year, Welspun Energy formally inaugurated a 151 MW solar power project in Neemuch District of Madhya Pradesh. It is the largest solar power project awarded to any industry player in India and was commissioned eight months ahead of schedule.
As present, renewable energy projects worth over Rs 5,069 crore are being implemented in Madhya Pradesh. A majority of these are solar power projects with a combined capacity of 485 MW. Evershine Solar is setting up two projects of 50 MW each in the Sehore district of the state. Waaneep Solar is also coming up with a 50 MW project in the same district. Other promoters setting up solar projects in the state are Moser Baer Energy Systems, Rays Power Experts, SM Infra India etc.
As for wind power, D J Energy is setting up a 180 MW project at Mamatkhera in Ratlam district. Waste-power projects, with a total capacity of 98 MW, are also being implemented in Madhya Pradesh. A majority of these renewable energy projects are likely to be completed by the next year, and as they are commissioned a lot faster than thermal or hydel power projects, they are MP’s best bet in becoming a power-surplus state.
Madhya Pradesh, in terms of installed capacity though, is far away from the power majors like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. But its fast journey from a power deficit state to a nearly power surplus one in the last 10 years is commendable.
|