February 7, 2002
'28' 25,000 MW HYDROPOWER NEW CAPACITY TO BE DEVELOPED WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATIONThe first ever international conference on Non-fossil Fuel Generation bringing on one platform the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) and Nuclear Power Corporation examined the possibility of correcting the unfavourable Hydel-Thermal mix to improve grid stability and environmental compatibility. The conference which concluded here today also looked at financing, risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies on non-fossil fuel projects for hydel, nuclear and renewable projects. The imperative for a country of India’s magnitude to diversify its energy mix with attention of big as well as small projects was discussed, so as to make the Power Ministry’s desire to provide "Power for all" by 2012 a reality.
Over 300 delegates including experts from Japan, Austria, Norway, Netherlands and Switzerland deliberated on the way to speed up hydro and renewable resources while nuclear power was considered to be a desirable addition to augment capacity. Renewables already contribute 3% of the grid capacity and 90% of the investments have come from private sector. $ 12 billion investment is required to set up 10,000 MW renewable capacities by 2012. To add 40,000 MW of hydel capacity in the next 20 years would mean $ 4 billion per year of investment.
As hydro development is to be developed with central and state schemes with private sector involvement, road shows were organized by Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The first ever river basin ranking study findings were studied by Central Electricity Authority. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) apart from renewable energy agencies from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and MNES made presentations at the road show.
Business opportunities with ongoing bids of Rs.1800 crore were shared by NHPC and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation. NHPC has posed 12 new projects with a combined capacity of 23,071 MW for international and joint venture collaboration estimated to contribute Rs.1,15,350 crore. All these projects are in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The projects are 11000 MW Siang Upper Project, 700 MW Middle Project, 1700 MW Siang Lower Project, 2500 MW Subansiri Upper Project, 2000 MW Subansiri Middle Project and 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Project in Arunachal Pradesh, 231 MW Chamera Stage-III and 520 MW Prabati State – III Projects in Himachal Pradesh and 280 MW Uri Stage – II, 1000 MW Pakal Dul and 1020 MW Bursar and 120 MW Sewa Project State-II in Jammu & Kashmir. NHPC organized a road show at the conference to formally present these projects to international participants.