ROAD SHOW HELD IN U.K. BY NATIONAL
THERMAL POWER CORPORATION ON POWER SECTOR IN INDIA
National Thermal Power Corporation
(NTPC) organised a road show on India’s Power sector on 24th
June 2002 in London. The large representation at the road show
from financial institutions, investors and other British and global
businesses operating in the power and energy sectors, attested
to the keen interest in the Indian Power sector among British
and international Business. The show was addressed by the Minister
of Power, Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises, Shri Suresh Prabhu.
In his welcome remarks the High Commissioner
of India to the UK Shri Ranendra Sen stressed that despite the
downtrend in the world economy, the consistent growth of the Indian
Economy, particularly in corporate investment, stock markets and
exports, had boosted business confidence in India and attested
to the country’s attractiveness as a business destination. He
also emphasised that contrary to the perception in some quarters,
no British Businesses were planning to leave India and the country
remained opened to businesses and travel as usual.
The Minister of Power referred to a silent revolution
of reforms in the power sector going on in India. He gave an over
view of the thrust of the Government of India’s strategy and policy
to create more capacity in the face of growing demand for power.
The Minister mentioned that steps were being taken for setting
up an additional 41,000 MW capacity in the 10th Five-Year
Plan and One Lakh MW in the next 10 years. In addition, conservation
of energy and demand side management, and measures such as setting
up of a National Grid, which is expected to affect the transfer
of more than 30,000 MW of Power internally by 2012, and renovation
and modernisation of some of the existing plants, are also expected
to augment the power supply.
The Minister also mentioned that the Government
of India was taking several steps for creating a liberalised framework
for investment in the power sector. In this regard, he specially
referred to the measures such as consideration of the Electricity
Bill by the Indian Parliament, setting-up of Tariff Regulatory
Commission at the Centre and in the states, charging even those
for power who so far were given power free or at high subsidies,
implementation of projects without time and cost overruns. The
Minister emphasised that privatisation of distribution in some
Indian states and the government’s resolve to carry further the
privatisation of distribution and also transmission to create
further opportunities for investment.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Power and
NTPC made presentations regarding various aspects of power sector
reforms and capacity augmentation. During the question-answer
session, several participants appreciated the presentations and
complimented the organisers on putting together an informative
road show.
