Energy, New and Renewable Energy, Mineral Resources and Public Relations Minister Rajendra Shukla has said that the Central Government should constitute a coal regulator for quality, regular and adequate supply of coal to States.
Urging to amend sampling provisions in fuel purchase agreement, he said that it will benefit States. Sampling of coal should be made on both loading and unloading ends. He urged to set up more ultra mega power projects like Sasan ultra mega power project in the interest of consumers in view of receipt of power at low rates in Madhya Pradesh from the project.
Shukla was addressing Energy Ministers’ conference chaired by Union Minister of State for Power (Independent charge) Piyush Goyal in New Delhi today. Underlining state’s achievements in power sector, Rajendra Shukla enumerated the issues which required Central Government’s cooperation.
He said that power generation has constantly increased as a result of supplying increased quantity of A and B grade coal to Sanjay Gandhi thermal power project of Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company. He urged that Ministry of Coal should advice SECl to restrict supply of coal of 5800 kcal/kg to SGTPS to a reasonable level of 20 percent, or below. He said that the WCl has not commenced coal supply to 2X250 MW extension units no; 10 and 11 at Satpura thermal power station as per agreement.
Shukla said that the Central Power Authority has allocated coal for startup, trial run and commissioning of second unit of Singaji project. This needs to be commenced soon. Apart from removing hurdles in coal supply through rail, supply of coal through alternative route should also be considered.
Apprising about progress in power supply, improvement in fiscal condition, transmission loss, increase in revenue etc., Shukla said that since June 2013 non-agriculture consumers are being supplied power round the clock and agriculture consumers for 10 hours a day. AT & C losses have also been reduced. Shukla informed that power generation capacity in the state was 4667 MW as on December 2003, which has risen to 12 thousand 656 MW by March 2014. During 12th Five-Year Plan, power generation capacity is targeted to be increased by 7046 MW. Madhya Pradesh will become power surplus state by year 2020.
The Energy Minister informed that renewable energy has been promoted in the state. The state government has framed policies for power supply from renewal energy projects. The response to these policies is so overwhelming that at present 276 projects of 65000 MW are under various stages of execution. State’s renewable capacity which was 468 MW as on April 1, 2012 has grown to 939 MW as of now and is set to reach 1900 MW by March 31, 2015. State had only 2 MW solar capacity as on April 1, 2012. This has reached 354 MW. During financial year 2014, the maximum solar capacity of 306 MW has been added in MP. State has received requests for setting up of 171 wind energy projects of 8400 MW capacity, which is the highest in any state during the last 2 years.