India adds record wind power capacity of 5,400MW in 2016-17
India added a record wind power capacity of 5,400 MW in 2016-17, much more than the target of 4,000 MW it had set itself for the year, according to official data. The ministry of new and renewable energy said the previous best was 3,423 MW in 2015-16, and before that 3,197 MW in 2011-12. Of the new capacity, around 3,026 MW was added in March 2017 alone. With this, the country’s total wind capacity stands at around 32,177 MW. India’s renewable energy programme has accelerated rapidly in the past three years, starting with successful auctions of solar energy projects, which led to a sharp fall in tariffs. In the fiscal year that ended last week, the government has also launched several initiatives for the wind energy sector. These include introduction of bidding, steps to encourage wind-solar hybrid plants and new guidelines for the development of wind energy. Only nine states in the country have winds strong enough to generate power. Of these, Andhra Pradesh added the maximum capacity of 2,190 MW, or over 40% of the total capacity added. It was followed by Gujarat with 1,275 MW and Karnataka with 882 MW. In addition, Madhya Pradesh added 357 MW, Rajasthan 288 MW, Tamil Nadu 262 MW, Maharashtra 118 MW, Telangana 23 MW and Kerala 8 MW. Last year, Madhya Pradesh had added the maximum capacity of 1,291MW, followed by Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The wind energy sector saw a number of fresh initiatives in 2016-17, especially the holding of the first wind auction, which brought the wind tariff down to Rs 3.46 per kwH. Until then, the tariff, set by state power regulators, had varied between Rs 4 and Rs 6 per kwH in different states. Jake Butt Authentic Jersey
Government approves extension of mega power policy
The government on Friday approved the extension of mega power policy to benefit 24 plants of 30,000-mw capacity that are expected to get benefits of more than Rs 10,000 crore. The cabinet committee on economic affairs approved amendments to the mega policy and is is likely to extend term of power purchase agreements signing to enable these 24 plants to avail the benefits of mega status. The amendments also proposes to release bank guarantee in proportion to percentage of capacity for which long term PPA has been signed, an official statement said. While 11,000 mw of the capacity is commissioned, remaining is under construction. The policy will lead to lower tariff, affordable power for distribution companies, avoid potential stressed assets worth Rs. 1.5 lakh crore, the statement said. The mega status was provided to thermal plants of over 1000-mw and hydro plants of 700-mw. These plants however, had to fulfil provisions including 85% long-term PPAs. Having a mega status gave these plants various incentives including lower customs duty, exemption from excise duty and deemed export benefits. “Unfortunately, due to missteps and misgovernance of the UPA regime, the entire power sector was jeopardised. Many projects became stalled and caused stress on Bank balance sheets thereby limiting credit flow across the economy and affecting future investments,” the statement said. The policy was withdrawn for projects other than those already issued certificates before July, 2012 Tampa Bay Rays Womens Jersey
SpiceJet Awarded Six Routes Under Regional Connectivity Scheme
SpiceJet, the country’s favourite low-cost carrier, was today awarded 6 proposals and 11 routes under the first phase of the Government of India’s UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme, the airline said. Out of the six finalised proposals, four will be to Adampur, Kandla, Pondicherry and Jaisalmer whereas two will be for underserved markets of Porbandar and Kanpur. Under the UDAAN scheme, airlines will get a subsidy of a few thousand rupees per passenger depending on the length of the route. The scheme is meant to help connect poorly connected cities. SpiceJet will be serving 6 airports by operating flights on the routes of Adampur–Delhi-Adampur, Kandla–Mumbai-Kandla, Pondicherry–Hyderabad-Pondicherry, Mumbai-Porbandar, Jaisalmer– Jaipur-Jaisalmer and Kanpur– Delhi-Kanpur. Under the scheme, SpiceJet has three years exclusivity on the routes which makes it the only airline to operate on these sectors. Shawn Williams Jersey
Russia Gains Advantage as India’s Aviation Sector Accelerates
India’s emergence as the third largest aviation market in terms of domestic passenger traffic overtaking Japan and now just behind China and the US comes as an opportunity for major aircraft manufacturers, including Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, which recently expressed its desire to localise some of its production line in India with its local partner Mahindra Aerospace. In its latest report, the Sydney-based think tank Capa – Centre of Aviation said that India with 100 million domestic air passenger traffic in 2016 stood behind only China (436 million) and the US (719 million). India beat Japan (97 million) and claimed third spot for itself. Not only that, India is expected to become the third largest aviation market (both domestic and international passenger traffic) by March next year overtaking the UK, according to Capa. India was projected to emerge as the third largest aviation market by 2020. Mike Pouncey Womens Jersey
MRO Facilities for Aviation Sector
Adequate facilities for maintenance and repair of planes are available in the country. However, for overhaul, only limited facility is available. Therefore, operators are taking their planes to other countries for overhaul. There are 110 Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO’s) approved in India, of which only 7 are capable of carrying out overhaul of planes. To increase the business potential, employment generation and foreign exchange earning of the country, following provisions have been made in the Budget announcements for 2016-17:- i) The tools and tool-kits used by the MRO have been exempted from Customs duty. The exemption shall be given on the basis of list the tools and tool kits certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved Quality Managers of aircraft maintenance organisations. ii) MROs were required to provide proof of their requirements of parts, or orders from their client airlines. The process for the clearance of the parts has been brought in line with that of the tool kits for a one time certification by DGCA approved Quality Managers in MRO’s. Steve Young Authentic Jersey
Mercury soaring, 2200 MW plant shut for maintenance in UP
The heat wave conditions in UP have brought the spotlight back on power shortage, accentuated by non-operational thermal power stations in the state. According to a latest report of UP State Load Dispatch Centre, power stations with a total installed capacity of over 2,200 MW remain shut even as mercury crosses a 40 degree Celsius-mark. The intense heat wave has also led to demand of 14,000 MW. The report shows that independent power producers (IPPs) comprising private sector and central sector power plants with around 1,750 MW installed capacity alone are shut for maintenance or have been closed down because of shortage of coal. And, they are expected to get fired up only by April-end or in the first week of May. The IPPs which are shut include 660-MW Bara, 300-MW Rosa, 110-MW Tanda, 660-MW Lalitpur and 200-MW Singrauli. While Bara has been closed till April 9 on account of coal shortage, the Lalitpur plant will remain closed till May 1 for maintenance work. The Rosa, Tanda and Singruali units, too, have been shut for annual over-hauling, an exercise which spans over a period of at least 30 days. In fact, the Singrauli plant, owned by NTPC, is scheduled to resume working only from May 3. Likewise, among the state sector power plants which remain shut for maintenance are a unit each of 50 MW, 94 MW and 200 MW in Obra, one 60-MW unit in Harduaganj and a 110-MW unit in Parichha. This way, the state sector power plants of over 500 MW remain shut for maintenance. The demand for power in UP has touched 14,000 MW. This is being somehow met with the help of centrally allocated quota. The report shows that against a quota of 4,943 MW, UP was getting over 5,200 MW of power from the central quota. On the other hand, the state-owned power plants wheeled in 4,250 MW of power, while another 750 MW of power was supplied by the co-gen companies (sugar mills). According to the supply chart of UPPPCL, urban areas and rural areas are scheduled to get 24 hours and 18 hours of power supply respectively. Power sector experts said the rise in day and night time temperatures will test the distribution and the transmission network of the state in the days to come. Scott Simonson Jersey
Defence Ministry allows use of land for Piped Natural Gas infrastructure
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted permission to use defence land to create Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure across all cantonments and military station areas in the country. The MoD’s communication has been marked to all three chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces as well as the Director General Defence Estates (DGDE). A senior DGDE official said, “All cantonments in the country will soon get PNG connection. The policy’s implementation will be carried out by chief executive officers (CEO) of cantonment boards.” According to defence source, the ministry has specifically mentioned that for work related to building PNG infrastructure on A-1 defence land the concerned authorities will have to seek permission from the areas’ Station Head Quarters. Similarly, for residential pockets in cantonments, the company will have to get permission from the CEOs. The communication categorically mentions, “Principal Director, Defence Estates of the respective command will be the sanctioning authority for grant of license for use of Defence land for laying infrastructure or pipeline.” The cantonment board’s CEO shall place the proposal to lay PNG infrastructure in the board meeting for approval along with land details, etc Commenting on the security aspects of the pipeline, the source said, “The PNG company shall ensure safety and security of all underground installation/utilities as well as facilities and shall be solely responsible for compensation of concerned authority. The compensation may be for damage caused or claims or replacement sought at their cost and risk.” Jason Verrett Jersey
Oil PSUs enrol a whopping 3 crore LPG consumers in 2016-17
State-run oil companies enrolled a record three crore cooking gas consumers in 2016-17, about twothirds of them from poor families, as part of the government drive to shut hazardous smoke from the kitchens of those who had not yet had access to clean cooking fuel. The government has mandated oil companies to add 10 crore new cooking gas customers between April 2016 and March 2019. Half of the new connections have to go to poor households under the government’s Ujjwala Yojana. “When Modi ji took over as prime minister, the country had 14 crore active LPG consumers, which has today expanded to 19.80 crore. So, we have achieved 5.8 crore in less than three years,” oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said. “When we formed government, it used to be less than 1 crore new connections a year,” he said, adding that 3.16 crore connections had been given by March 24. This exceeds the 2016-17 target of 3 crore connections and is way ahead of 1.77 crore new customers added in 2015-16. About two crore new customers in 2016-17 were poor women. The rapid expansion means 71% of Indian households now have access to cooking gas, compared with 56% in April 2015. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum have been rapidly rolling out the government plan to take clean fuel to more and more households, especially in the traditionally-disadvantaged eastern states. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha are some of the states with least access to cooking gas. With just 30-40% cooking gas coverage, these states are far behind Delhi, Punjab, Kerala and Goa, which have above 100% coverage. The government’s Ujjwala Yojana, which offers subsidised connection to the poor, has been crucial in raising access to cooking gas in the past fiscal year. “The successful implementation of Ujjwala has renewed poor people’s faith in the government,” Pradhan said. The increased consumer base also helped boost domestic cooking gas consumption by 10% in 2016-17. This rapid expansion has come with its own set of challenges, the biggest of which is to let supply infrastructure keep pace with the increased customer demand. A 6.2% growth in number of cooking gas distributors between April and December 2016, fell far short of the 17% expansion in active customer base in the same period. Rollie Fingers Authentic Jersey
Subsidised imported gas scheme scrapped
The government has discontinued a two-year-old scheme under which it offered imported gas at subsidised rates to stranded and underutilised gas power projects. But the government is open to resuming the programme if all stakeholders wanted it back, power minister Piyush Goyal said. ET had on February 19 reported that the power ministry was unlikely to extend the scheme that covered power projects with a combined capacity of 24,000 MW. Industry associations had made representations to the ministry for extension of the scheme that ended on March 31 and state-run gas transporter GAIL India too had made the same request. However, state governments that participated in the programme to revive private and state-sector plants withdrew from it, a senior ministry official said. “In the backdrop of low gas prices and state governments withdrawing from the scheme, we have decided not to extend the scheme,” the official said. “The scheme is being discontinued but if there is interest from all sides, we can resume it,” Goyal told media persons last week. The scheme for importing spot regassified LNG was started in 2015-16 for stranded gas-based power plants and plants receiving inadequate domestic supply of the fuel. The Power System Development Fund provided financial support under the programme. Companies that got gas in three rounds of auction under it include NTPC, Ratnagiri Gas & Power, Torrent Power, GVK Industries, Lanco Kondapalli, GMR Energy, Gujarat State Electricity Corp and CLP India. Under the scheme that was meant to make gas affordable, state government were required to forego some taxes. Also, gas transporters and import terminals had offered discounts on charges for their services. The power ministry auctioned the rights for companies to source gas under the scheme. The first two rounds of auction were to supply gas from June 2015 to September 2015 and from October 2015 to May 2016. Under those, the bidders had to indicate the total incremental electricity they would generate by using the gas sourced from the e-bid and quote the subsidy requirement. In the third round of auction held in March 2016, for supply from June that year, bidders had agreed to forego the subsidy. The Association of Power Producers had recommended continuation of the scheme for two more years, arguing that it would be at zero cost for the government as subsidy determined in the third round was negative, meaning producers were ready to pay a premium instead of taking a subsidy. Nick Vannett Womens Jersey