India confident of generating surplus power for export

India expressed confidence in generating surplus power for export as more power equipment firms prepare to set up units.



“We had only Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Now, six big companies are coming in joint ventures and the country will not face any power problem. I am confident that the country will export power to other countries,” said Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

He pointed out that while the government of India has kept a huge target of adding power generation capacity of 78,777 megawatt for the 11th Five Year Plan from 2007 to 12, there are not many equipment manufacturing companies.

” In the 10th Five Year Plan, the country was able to produce 22,000 Mw, though the target was 42,000 Mw, he explained.

He, however, said that power is in the concurrent list and the state governments “have not done much to increase power generation capacity”.

The country’s total power generation is about 185,000 Mw, of which 108,000 Mw goes for consumption.

 Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal said that 110,000 villages have been electrified under the scheme and
as many as 17.6 million families living below poverty line also been covered.