Load sheddings set to return

The Economic Times
15 Sep, 2007

MUMBAI: After a brief respite during the monsoon season, Maharashtra is set to experience load shedding again. The shortfall this time is pegged at 3,500 MW. Last year the state faced a record power deficit of 5,700 MW that forced many part of the state to face load-shedding up to 16 hours a day. From September-end, the state will face a shortage of 3,500 MW of power, state energy minister Dilip Valse Patil told mediapersons at Dabhol. Mr Valse Patil chaired a meet on reviving the ill-fated Dabhol power project, now renamed Ratnagiri Gas and Power Project (RGPPL). Mr Valse Patil expressed hope that the power shortage would be tackled by resorting to measures like single-phasing, feeder separation and load management.

However, he did not indicate the hours of load-shedding that will be enforced. But according to energy ministry officials plans are afoot to impose two hours of power cut in urban areas, while the rural areas will face power outages of four to six hours every day to begin with. The power generation in Maharashtra this year will be higher by 3,000 MW of which 2,150 mw would be from the Dabhol plant, 500 MW from Parli/Paras and 400 MW from other sources. However, the rise in demand for power is pegged at 1,000 MW, the minister added. The state will have to wait till January 2008 for power from RGPPL. The paucity of gas has restrained the state authorities to run Dabhol unit at full capacity. Adding to the woes is the state’s failure to kick off the capacity addition plan. Though it had signed agreements to hike power generation to 12,500 MW over the next five years with Rs 50,000 crore investments, nothing has come out of them.

Reliance Energy, Tata Power, Essar Power, GMR, CIPCO, Ispat, Jindal and Spectrum Power had signed agreements for building power projects in the state.

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