Naveen Patnaik seeks PM’s intervention for people affected by power
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Prime Minister to instruct NTPC to address the concerns of 27 villages in Jharsuguda district to be adversely hit by a 1600 MW super thermal power project being set up in Chhattisgarh. “NTPC is setting up a 1600 (2X800) MW Super Thermal Power Project at Lara in Chhattisgarh at a distance of about two km from the border of Odisha,” Patnaik said in a letter to Narendra Modi. Twenty-seven villages of Kandeikela, Remata, Kanaktora, Charpali, Pithinda and Badimal gram panchayats of Lakhanpur block in the said disrict will be adversely affected by the project, he said. It is learnt that while public hearing regarding Environment Impact Assessment has been done in the villages affected by this project in Chhattisgarh, no such public hearing had taken place in the project-affected villages in Odisha, the Chief Minister claimed. It is also learnt that CSR activities in nine villages in Chhattisgarh have started, Patnaik said, adding when this project is commissioned the environment, livelihood and health conditions of the people of the 27 villages of Odisha will be seriously impacted. Stating that this issue has been constantly hammmered by the afffected people and their representatives, particularly the Bargarh MP and Brajarajnagar MLA, the chief minister said he had also taken up the matter with the Union Minister for Power and Renewable Energy. “In view of the sensitivity of the issue involved, I would request you to kindly intervene in the matter and issue suitable instructions to the NTPC authorities to address the genuine concerns of the people of the project-affected people of our state,” Patnaik said. Jason Kidd Jersey
Brazil to reschedule power transmission lines auction to attract bidders
The Brazilian government has decided to postpone the transmission lines auction scheduled for September 2 to try to avoid a failure due to lack of bidders, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday. The government had expected to attract investments of up to 12.6 billion reais ($4 billion). But the Energy Ministry decided to review the terms of the auction to ensure interest from investors. State-owned power holding company Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA rescheduled the privatization auction of Centrais Eletricas de Goias SA last week also due to lack of bidders for the distribution company. Corey Seager Jersey
DDUGJY brings light to a further 28 villages in the past week
28 villages have been electrified across the country during last week (from 15thto 21st August 2016) under DeenDayalUpadhyaya Gram JyotiYojna(DDUGJY). Out of these electrified villages, 4 villages belong to Assam, 5 Chhattisgarh, 3to Jharkhand, 10to Meghalaya and 6 to Rajasthan. 10,079 villages have been electrified till date. Out of remaining 8,373 villages, 525 villages are uninhabited.5,069 villages are to be electrified through grid, 2,590 villages to be electrified through off-grid where grid solutions are out of reach due to geographical barriers and 189 villages are to be electrified by the State Government. Total 1654 villages were electrified during April 2015 to 14thAug 2015 and after taking initiative by Government of India for taking it on mission mode, 8,425 additional villages have been electrified from 15thAugust 2015 to 21stAugust, 2016. In order to expedite the progress further, a close monitoring is being done through Gram VidyutAbhiyanta(GVA) and various actions are also being taken on regular basis like reviewing the progress on monthly basis during the RPM meeting, sharing of list of villages which are at the stage of under energization with the state DISCOM, identifying the villages where milestone progress are delayed. Gordie Howe Womens Jersey
Let Bengal raise old power plants to super-critical levels: Goyal
Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday suggested the West Bengal government convert two of the state’s old power plants into super-critical base plants. He also said the Centre would take steps to simplify mining operations in the Deocha Pachami coal block which was allocated to West Bengal along with other states. “To start with, I have suggested the state convert two of its old power plants — Kolaghat Thermal Power Station (KTPS) with a capacity of 1,260 megawatt (MW) and Bandel Thermal Power Station having 455 MW capacity — into super critical base power stations,” Goyal said. The state will take its own decision, he said. Located in the south western part of Birbhum Coalfield in West Bengal, Deocha-Pachami coal block with a coal reserve 2,000 million tonnes was offered jointly to West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam. The state government, however, has been saying that the mining operations would be difficult with so many players being allocated to the mine. “We are trying to provide some other blocks to some of the states which got the allocation in Deocha-Pachmi. The process is to simplify the mining operations in the Deocha Pachmi,” he said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee created a special purpose vehicle, Bengal Birbhum Coalfields Ltd, to develop the mine. Goyal also said the Centre’s policy to conduct reverse bidding process to award coal extraction works to allocated coal mines has yielded benefits to the state. The Centre allocated six coal blocks to the state. After settling with the legal disputes, the process of awarding mine development and operations of the blocks has been completed in reverse bidding process. The work order will be issued shortly. “The cost of carrying out coal mining in Pachwara (North) coal block having capacity of 15 mt of coal per year was Rs 1,564 per tonne , the cost came down in the reverse bidding process to Rs 774 crore. The reduction in cost will benefit the state,” he said. Jarvis Jenkins Authentic Jersey
Discoms turn to smart meters to manage power demand in Delhi
Rising energy consumption in cities is making power distribution companies change the way they are doing business. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL) is getting into solar power generation for large customers and installing smart meters for all its residential consumers as part of a plan to manage energy demand. While solar power generation through partner companies will help address rising peak demand, smart meters will facilitate billing of customers based on the time at which power is consumed, TPDDL chief executive officer and managing director Praveer Sinha said. Utilities, which are currently allowed to charge industries differently depending on the time of the day, plan to seek permission from state electricity regulators for similar charging of residential users as well, once smart meters are in place. Tata Power, which distributes electricity in the north and north-west parts of the national capital region, will get 400 megawatt (MW) of solar power generated for its large customers over the next few years through partner companies. This is expected to lower consumption of price-regulated electricity. It is also in the process of finalizing bids for procuring smart meters for 1.5 million customers. It had earlier installed these devices for 170 of its industrial customers under a pilot study. “Now, we are going ahead with full-fledged implementation. In the first phase, we will install 200,000 smart meters and will scale it up to 1.5 million in five to six years. We will invest about Rs.100 crore a year for this,” said Sinha. Smart meters will communicate with the distribution company on the consumption pattern and on details of the power supply, which will help in maintaining the quality of energy supply and in determining power bills based on consumption at different times of the day. Power consumption is usually high during the afternoon and at night. For customers with a rooftop solar power generation facility, smart meters will also facilitate selling surplus power during the day to the grid, get credits and use it to pay for consumption at night. Reliance Power Ltd-owned BSES Yamuna Power Ltd and BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, which supply electricity to about 3.5 million residential, institutional and business consumers in Delhi, are also in the process of shifting to smart meters in phases, a person aware of the companies’ plans said, requesting anonymity. “Considering the huge cost involved, this exercise is being done in phases. In the first, consumers who use more than 500 units a month will be covered by the end of 2017,” said the person. A BSES official, who asked not to be named, said the two BSES companies in the capital had installed 185 rooftop solar ‘net metering’ connections (smart meters measuring net consumption from the grid after selling surplus solar power from rooftop panels to the grid). These installations have a sanctioned load of 6.6MW. The companies are installing 30 more with a sanctioned load of 1.37MW. Around 40 schools and educational institutes have opted for ‘net metering’ connections from BSES. The savings consumers make range from Rs.1,800 a month to around Rs.10 lakh a month depending on the sanctioned load. Around 110-120 sq. ft is required for each kilowatt of capacity, explained the official. Experts said state electricity regulators have to catch up with the changing industry dynamics. “Indian utilities have utilized limited functionality of smart meters, or have deployed largely for high-value consumers. There is a case for enhancing both aspects, but for that electricity regulators should innovate on tariff design. This could include time of day, demand response, interruptible tariffs, and allow behind-the-meter applications,” said Kameswara Rao, leader of the energy utilities and mining practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers in India. Many solar power developers are now independently approaching customers with attractive financing schemes to have panels installed on their rooftops as the cost of a rooftop solar power generation facility lasting 25 years could be recovered in three to four years. The government has set a target of generating 40 gigawatt (GW) of residential rooftop solar power capacity by 2022 as part of its renewable energy strategy. Sinha said power consumption in the capital is growing by about 10% a year, partly because of higher consumption by existing customers and partly because of new customers. According to Delhi Transco Ltd, power demand hit a historic high of 6,268MW on 1 July due to rising heat and humidity. Curtis Lazar Jersey
NEEPCO losing Rs 40 lakh daily as ONGC fails to supply gas in Tripura
North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), a state run ‘Mini Ratna’ under the Ministry of Power claimed that it facing a loss of Rs 40 lakh daily since August 2013 as ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd) has failed to supply the committed gas to its 101 Megawatt power project at Monarchak in Tripura set up at a cost of more than Rs 1000 crores. Samar Ranjan Biswas, Head of the Monarchak project said, “Even after completion of the project of 100 MW size, and in all respect the project was completed in August 2013 unfortunately ONGC could not give us gas and it has remained unutilized. We had generated power only for few months and that too during non-operational of one unit of Palatana plant (power plant of ONGC) they could have given us the gas. After that it was again suspended and till now it is under suspension.” According to officials initially in the year 2001, NEEPCO had a plan to set up a gas based 500 MW combined cycle power plant and with the approval and allocation of 2 MMSCUMD (Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day) of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP and NG). But in 2003 the gas allocation for the project was reduced to half and accordingly NEEPCO established all infrastructure for a 280 MW power plant. Meantime, ONGC during the end of 2005 had come with proposed for setting up its first power plant of 750 MW at Palatana in South Tripura and on view of which the MOP conveyed to NEEPCO to abandon its 280 MW Monarchak project. However, under the pursuance of the government of Tripura and NEEPCO by the end of 2007 again MOP&NG had asked ONGC to provide gas but this time only 0.5 MMSCUMD (i.e, one fourth what was committed) and according again the DPR for the project was changed to 101 MW and got approval from the CEA (Central Electricity Authority of India). In July 2010 the Project Investment Board (PIB) approved the project followed by the approval for setting up of the project by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), then headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in February 2011. In this delay the sanctioned project cost of Rs 623.44 crores after the revise had almost doubled and gone up to Rs 1007.57 crores. In spite of all these hurdles including the transportation of the over dimensional cargo (ODC) of the turbines and its parts in record 36 months and by the mid of 2013, NEEPCO completed the work of the gas turbine followed by the steam turbine and intimated about its readiness to the MOP&NG. Finally it became a 101 MW project and of which 63 MW would be generated by gas turbine while 38 MW by steam turbines. Accordingly ONGC on intermittent basis and as per availability first supplied gas in February 2015 though it failed to supply full contracted quantity and expressing its inability assured to supply by March 2016. Later only for a short period of two months (from 24 December 2015 to 28 February 2016) ONGC continuously supplied 0.5 MMS gas and during which both the gas and steam turbine operated, but now again ONGC has intimated that only by December 2016 it will be able to supply gas to the Monarchak project. The non supply of gas is a big loss for the NEEPCO and now official say that they are not sure about the fate of the project as ONGC has been giving date after date for supplying gas and without which the entire investment will be of no use. “We do not know what will happen to the plant, it is definitely a loss, a loss to the corporation and the nation. However, we have taken up the matter with the government of India and they have taken it with ONGC and others. Now we have got a commitment form the Ministry of Petroleum that gas will be resumed by December 2016 and in that case I think that we will be on stream with effect from January 2017. Daily loss is around Rs 40 to 45 lakhs and so yearly we shall have a loss of Rs 100 crore. Investment is Rs 1000 crore and we have a loan from Stat Bank of Singapore,” informed the Head of the Monarchak project. Along with this there are additional losses as the turbines and machineries which have already been used shall also gradually get rusted without use beside the staff and engineers those engaged with the project getting demoralized. N Bhuiya, a senior manager, said, “See we are losing around 40 lakhs a month and not only losing money but now we people – the engineers who are posted here are becoming ideal and that is also loss of your manpower and resource. So that way we are losing, revenue wise we are losing and see this is an internal combustion gas turbine and when already firing has taken place inside the gas turbine and definitely if it is a continuously process it is good. When we stop for eight to nine months again the whole process we have to start because from cleaning the gas pipeline, cleaning the steam turbine, pipelines whole activity again we have to do. So this is a loss in whole all the way, in terms of revenue, manpower and man resource.” The ambitious combined cycle electric power project of NEEPCO at Monarchak is all ready but ONGC has again expressed inability to supply gas till the end of this year. Now only time will say if NEEPCO shall be able to start its more than Rs 1000 crores project or shall have to bear the loss, a loss to the entire nation especially when India is starving for power and without which the wheel of development cannot run. Calvin Johnson Womens Jersey
APERC treads with caution on power tariff hike
Justice G Bhavani Prasad, chairman of Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC), has remained non-committal on the prospects of revision of power tariff. “It is the usual practice that the distribution companies (discoms) will submit aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) and tariff proposals some time in November every year and the commission will take a call on the proposals in April next. I cannot predict on the issue right now as it is a subject to be finalised at that point of time basing on the discoms’ proposals,” Justice Prasad said at a press conference here on Friday. In his capacity as chairman of APERC, he chaired the seventh state advisory committee (SAC) meeting of APERC held here. Justice Prasad claimed that power utilities in the state were ranked first in minimising distribution losses. The commission effected a 4 per cent hike, subjecting only 8 per cent of consumers to the burden in 2014-15 and 2 per cent covering only 4 per cent of consumers in the next year, he explained. When drawn his attention to the opinion of the industry on the higher tariff structure in the state which had resulted in migration of investments to the neighbouring states where power charges are relatively lower, he said that there was no truth in such claims. Replying to a question, Justice Prasad said the commission is examining a petition which challenged the power purchase agreements (PPAs), Hinduja National Power Corporation Limited had inked with the state government. “I cannot make any comment on this issue as it is subject to examination by the commission,” he added. Larry Andersen Authentic Jersey
Despite grim scenario, no power cuts: Energy Minister
Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar has assured the people of Karnataka that despite a drought-like situation and the power scenario being grim, the department would not resort to power cuts. Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the training programme held for candidates appointed to various posts in Hubballi Electricity Supply Company and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. here on Saturday, the Minister said that the department would make all efforts to supply quality power to farmers, industries and other consumers. Mr. Shivakumar said that hydel-power generation was not up to the mark as reservoirs had not received adequate inflow. “However farmers will get three-phase electricity for seven hours and industries will get power round the clock,” he said. Russell Bodine Jersey
Punjab paid extra to pvt firms for power: Jakhar
Congress chief spokesperson Sunil Jakhar has said that the SAD-BJP government in Punjab had paid Rs 2,935 crore extra to private generation units for making the state power surplus. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the Congress leader demanded an explanation on the issue from deputy CM Sukhbir Badal during the upcoming assembly session. Jakhar said the international price of coal was US $ 26 per tonne in India in July 2015, but “anticipating an increase” in coal prices, the tariff order of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited fixed the rates for private players at higher rates. “The excess power purchase for energy balance was Rs 2,257 crore at 268 paise per unit,” he said. “There should be detailed discussion in the assembly on this issue. The government should explain why it bought power at costly rates even though it could have been managed at cheaper tariff from outside.” These private generation units in the state have turned into white elephants and the government is paying so much extra to them. In my next press briefing, I will unearth who benefitted from these contracts. Legally, the government may have covered its tracks, but the figures do point to misrepresentations,” he said. Marcus Martin Jersey
Electrification of 1,450 Uttar Pradesh villages under lens, power ministry to seek CAG audit
he Centre is carrying out an on field verification in all 1,450 villages declared as electrified by Uttar Pradesh to probe if funds sanctioned for rural electrification by it have been pilfered. If found to be true, the power ministry will approach the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) seeking an audit, a senior power ministry official said. The power ministry has asked rural electrification engineers called as Gram Vidyut Abhiyantas (GVAs) to carry out cross-verification of village electrification claims of the state. BJP president for Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya will also go to villages to ascertain whether power infrastructure and supply position is in line with the information available with the central government. The decision has been taken by the power ministry after media reports highlighted that villagers of Nagla Fatela village in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, referred as electrified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech, did not have electricity. Modi had said that although Nagla Fatela was only three hours away from Delhi and it took 70 years for electricity to reach there. Media reports, however, said villagers were using ‘katia connections’ from agricultural feeders. “As the work of establishing infrastructure for electrification was completed, we mentioned its status as completed. As the village already had power supply, we termed it ‘electrified,” said Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL), the concerned distribution utility, in response to a showcause notice from Rural Electrification Corp (REC) on Wednesday. By Friday DVVNL admitted to illegal connections and resolved to dismantle the old infrastructure. “The reply makes it clear that Uttar Pradesh has admitted to mistakes and irregularities and has failed to provide regular electricity to the people while encouraging power theft and corruption,” the power ministry official said. Under the rural electrification scheme called Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna, state governments identify and implement village projects and REC sanctions funds after vetting them. Of the Rs 22,533 crore sanctioned to the state in about 10 years for electrification, only 34% has been utilised. Only 22% of the 92,323 villages identified for intensive electrification are reported to be energized. Power, coal, renewable energy and mines minister Piyush Goyal earlier alleged that Uttar Pradesh has been asking for additional funds while not been able to utilise the existing ones. While Uttar Pradesh blames the Centre, the Union power ministry accused the state of shoddy documentation and delayed execution. Uttar Pradesh principal secretary for energy Sanjay Agarwal was not available for comments. The Hathras district was sanctioned Rs 108 crore of grant by REC in January 2014 and was declared as electrified after verification by DVVNL in October 2015. Of the sanctioned cost, REC has released an amount of Rs 24.6 crore of which nearly Rs 25 lakhs was earmarked for infrastructure creation of Nagla Fatela. REC’s wholly owned subsidiary REC Power Distribution had last year appointed 309 young local rural electrification engineers at block and district level to monitor the progress of rural electrification in various states. REC Power Distribution will relocate some GVAs from other states to complete assessment of the 1,450 villages in UP by end of this month. Alex Mack Authentic Jersey