Himachal Government has decided that Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board ltd would Purchase electricity produced by the small power projects upto 25 MW capacity in order to help the power producers of these projects and attract more investment in power sector, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Saturday.
Presiding over a seminar on “Speedy Development of Hydro Electric Projects in Himachal Pradesh” organised by Bonafide Himachalis Hydro Power Developers and Himalaya Power Producers Association in collaboration with MNRE, Government of India and MPP & Power Department, NES, Government of Himachal Pradesh here, Thakur said that the State has identified potential of over 27000 MW which once fully harnessed have the potential to transform the economy of the State.
The chief minister said that till date only 10547 MW potential stands harnessed and the state government has set a target to harness about 182 MW potential during the current year by active participation of private and public sectors, for which the Government was providing several incentives to the power producers so that they can construct hydro power projects in the State with ease.
Thakur said the power producers would be independent to sell the electricity generated by them to other interested buyers. He said a committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of Power Minister to look into the issues raised by the power producers of the State.
The Chief Minister said that State Government has made necessary amendments in the Power Policy so as to make it investors friendly. "The State government was according speedy forest clearances for the construction of power projects in the State. This would save the power producers from unnecessary delays in the construction of power projects," he said, adding that during the present tenure of the State Government, some major initiatives have been taken for the welfare of the investors both in power and industrial sectors.
Thakur said that in order to attract more investors in power sector, the State Government has already deferred the royalty at the rate of 12 per cent for the first 12 years for upcoming projects which will immensely benefit the power producers.
This would help the power producers to pay the loans and interest on the loan easily during the initial years of the projects. In addition, upfront premium at the rate of Rs 1 lakh per MW is being charged from upcoming projects for safeguarding the interests of the independent power producers.
MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma said that power and tourism sector has immense potential both for making the State economically self-sufficient and providing employment opportunities to the youth of the State. He said the Power Policy has been made investors friendly and greater stress would be laid on power transmission so that independent power producers does not face any hardship in selling the power.