India's capacity addition not enough to help meet targets

The power capacity to be in India during the current financial year is not enough to meet revised targets in the 11th plan.

With a cumulative capacity addition of merely 45,666 MW till December 27, 2011, the burden of achieving the target for the remaining plan period, including the addition of 1,195 MW from the previous quarter, has already increased.

The goal for the 11th plan was initially set to 78,577 MW, which was later scaled down to 62,374 MW by the Planning Commission. However, even this revised target seems to be out of reach, since only 57,305 MW can be added by the fourth quarter end if the anticipated amount of 11,639 MW, which is too high, will be achieved in the last quarter.

The situation for the ongoing quarter looks bleak, with the estimated fuel wise-- thermal, hydro and nuclear addition for the months likely to fall short of its respective targets. Although the cumulative capacity addition has been pegged at 11,639 MW for the coming months till March end, the goal set for the quarter is too ambitious and only 7,000 MW is likely to be fulfilled by the contribution of the thermal and hydro sectors.

According to the estimates provided by the Central Electricity Authority, there will be no capacity addition by the nuclear sector, whereas that by the hydro and thermal sectors are likely to increase by 373 MW and 11,266 MW respectively during the quarter period.