Roadblocks in process of power generation

Finance minister Arun Jaitley’s announcement to ensure adequate coal supplies to power plants already commissioned and those due for completion by 2015 should come as a relief to the promoters of these projects.

While the private sector accounted for approximately 55 per cent of the total capacity addition in the 11th Plan, it has contributed 68 per cent, or 30,500 MW, of the 45,516 MW capacity put up so far against the targeted 94,285 MW for the full 12th five-year plan.

But most of this thermal capacity is lying idle or proving to be uneconomical owing to various reasons, including fuel shortage, higher cost of alternative fuel, denial of allocated mines and transmission contraints and low off take by discoms. Here’s a round-up...