Sending some brighter signals across, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is assured to add anything between 1,600 to 2,100 MW of new power generating capacity during the financial year 2013-14. Notably, the first multipurpose project of the country has added 1,000 MW and 1,150 MW in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.
Though, likewise the other thermal power generation companies operating in the country, the DVC is also worried about assured supply of coal to take its incoming projects forward. “We have 30 MT of coal reserve. For 4,020 MW of new capacity building we require 23.4 MT of coal reserve. We have linkage for 11.62 MT and 4.7 MT of coal is available from imports but still we have a huge shortfall. Our capacity building programmes are stranded due to coal,” DVC chairman Rabindra Nath Sen said on Friday.
Sen also added that to overcome the laggard DVC had applied for coal mining blocks going to be auctioned soon by the Coal Ministry. Though, large numbers of applications seeking the blocks have come. “There are many seekers as well. As soon as we get coal we would go for renovation and capacity addition for Koderma, Chandrapura, Durgapur and Maithan projects,” Sen said. Nearly 60 per cent of coal based power projects in the country are lurching in the want of the fuel. DVC is also mulling to surrender old and closed mines.
Current commercial operational capacity of DVC is 6,562 MW. Out of which 5,210 MW is of its own whereas 1,150 MW at Maithon, a joint venture with Tata Power, and 302 MW at BPSCl, running with SAIl.
Revealing some future plans, Sen said that DVC is erecting a new transmission system of ‘220 kv ring’ under its 12th plan. The alternative line would provide two sources of power to its consumers, ensuring uninterrupted power supply. “It will be a new step for the country,” the chairman said.
Talking about DVC’s strategy to cater upcoming dedicated fright corridor of railways, Sen said that the company had been approached for power supply for Dankuni-Andal-Gomoh-Sonnagar-Ganjkhwaja-Mughalsarai line.
“What we are planning for both the Eastern and Mumbai-Delhi freight corridors is to erect a line between rail and road line. By this we can give power to both the sides.”
Talking about Jharkhand, Sen said that its obligation to provide lT power to seven districts of the State falling in the command area had several glitches. “We have got the first report of the panel set for assessing feasibility. We have to install a new infrastructure as the JSEB has nothing. Also, power theft has to be brought to nil. We need honest customers willing to pay actual price like in West Bengal and Gujarat. We also expect subsidy from Jharkhand Government. We need Rs3,000 crore of capital investment and for that low interest loan is needed from the World Bank. So these all are the conditions and the initiative which are still at a conceptual stage,” Sen said.