India's excess power capacity an aberration, should export: Minister R K Singh


New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS): The excess power capacity in India is an aberration in a situation where large parts of the country are yet to get electricity, Power Minister R K Singh said on Tuesday.

Adressing the Indian Power Stations conference here, he also said that India can explore export of power to neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, which were viable markets for export of power as the per unit cost of electricity was very high in these areas.

"If you look at the entire power sector, the demand has been suppressed because not everyone is connected.

"We have just started taking-off and are going to enter double digit growth. What we see as excess capacity today may not turn out to be enough if we unlock that demand," he said.

The minister also said the rise in power demand will lead to an increase in demand for coal, for which India needs to be prepared.

"The unlocking of demand will come but with some constraints. We don't have a shortage of coal but we need to put in place mechanisms to get coal from underground to over ground and then to the power stations," he said.

The Minister said that state-run generator NTPC, earlier known as National Thermal Power Corp, must aim to become the biggest power producer globally.

"Globally, NTPC is currently ranked 12th in terms of power generation. But in my view, NTPC hasn't reached its limit.

"Why can't NTPC set up power plants in other nations and why can't the company emerge as our multinational? Why can't NTPC become world's largest power generator," he asked.

In this connection, Singh said that neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh were viable markets for power and the government is looking at sending teams to these countries to assess the demand.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangaluru

    Wed, Feb 14 2018

    We need electricity to cover large part of our country which is still in darkness without power

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 14 2018

    Let us be self sufficient First 😁😁😁

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Honnappa, Byadagi

    Wed, Feb 14 2018

    This shows how the plans made by government are shoddy. At one end we have excess electricity generation capacity and other hand , India ( Bharat ) even today has thousands of villages without electricity for more than twelve hours in a day. Many of villages do not have infrastructure for transmission and distribution of electric power generated to reach them. This is real Digital India.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 14 2018

    Even a oil rich nation like Saudi Arabia is planning to divert to renewable energy whereas our minister is suggesting we export the power generated through turbines. The turbines need fuel that is imported.

    Foremost, how will he export the power ? Filled in gunny bags ? Doesn't cable laying require to transfer power ? How feasible it will be compared to turbine generation and project execution costs ? Won't the countries by that time decide to terminate the contract and divert to renewable energy ?

    Development needs to be extended to benefit based issues than changing Gandhi/Nehru books to Modi book. Change the villages into solar energy users than still struggling to provide them electricity.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • hemanth, Bangalore

    Wed, Feb 14 2018

    How about wind turbines and hydro turbines? aren't they renewable? Only people like you think exporting power in bags.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 14 2018

    Hemanth,

    Hydro ? When our rivers go empty in say Nov/Dec, where you will bring the force to run the turbines ? What the nation supposed to do at this time ? Beg for water from China/Pak ?

    Why ? Solar/wind requires license to use from atmosphere ? Our solar power usage/storage is not improved enough - it should be developed/encouraged for using by people of the nation than thinking about export.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, USA

    Wed, Feb 14 2018

    This is the same R. K. Singh, who BACK STABBED, our most beloved former PM, Dr. Singh!!!! He got what he wanted, but don't have any idea of making policies, which is good for the Nation, like another his colleague LUNGI Alphonso, who said those who have Bike are millionaires !!!! FULL OF COW DUNG & NUTS!!!!!

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: India's excess power capacity an aberration, should export: Minister R K Singh



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