India Likely to See 76,000 MW Capacity Addition in 12th Plan

The Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde presented the

National Awards for Meritorious Performance in Power Sector, at a function,

 in New Delhi on March 22, 2012. The Minister of State for Power,

K.C. Venugopal and the Secretary, Ministry of Power,

P. Uma Shankar are also seen. Photo © PIB

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI) -- India is projected to see capacity addition of 76,000 MW during the next Five-Year Plan period ending March 2017, Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal today said.

The power sector, grappling with acute fuel shortages, is expected to achieve capacity addition of around 54,000 MW in the 2007-12 Plan periods.

"Looking ahead, it has been estimated that a capacity addition of about 76,000 MW is required during the 12th Plan. Capacity addition envisaged during the 13th Plan is about 93,000 MW," Venugopal said at a function here to give away national awards for meritorious performance in power sector.

In the current Plan period, about 52,000 MW capacity has been added so far and another 2,000 MW is anticipated this month, he noted.

The government had earlier set a target for adding 78,577 MW of capacity in the 11th Five-Year Plan period and it was scaled down to 62,000 MW.

Presently, the country has an installed power generation capacity of nearly 1, 70,000 MW.

Speaking on the occasion, Power Secretary P Uma Shankar said hydro power projects should be developed at a faster pace than being done at present.

Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was also present. -- NNN-PTI