PANJIM: The announcement by the government that there would be a delay in the commencement of coal blocks at Chhattisgarh may have surprised everyone. But the industry generally feels that electricity is available on the grid and they would be okay with paying Rs. 8-9 per unit.
The general consensus was this development meant that the state would no longer have a captive power source which would have meant a lower cost per unit.
The CM in a statement on Thursday had revealed that the government would explore the possibility of sourcing power from the Kaiga nuclear power plant. The state had recently unveiled an investment policy in an attempt to improve the level of employment in the state and encourages businesses both local and national to set base here.
In this policy the government had declared the electricity department was preparing a medium term plan for sourcing base load and peak power including gas-based power and would submit the same to the Government for consideration. The medium term plan will be based on the expected demand from new units as well as increased requirements of existing units.
Blaise Costabir former president of the Verna industrial estate felt that as long as the industry received good quality power, they would not have a problem paying for it. He said “I am sure industrialists will not have a problem paying somewhere in the region of between Rs 8-9. It will not affect their profitability. The problem here is now that we don’t have a captive source which changes the calculation. We will now have to go on to the grid and bid for power. This changes everything.
“Rajan Bhatikar, chairman Basic Infrastructure GCCI felt that Kaiga was a good plant which was operated optimally and would be able to provide good quality electricity but he warned it would not be as cheap as power provided by a plant using coal. However he said that Goa would have to push to get a good deal when negotiating for power from Kaiga or the national grid.
Goa was allocated approximately 460 MW from NTPC stations, 28 MW from NPCIL. A small quantum of power (approx. 47 MU) is procured from co-generation plants in Goa while around 16 MW of power was the allocation from Reliance in Goa. This Private IPP also supplied power linked to around 16 MW of capacity directly to industry. In 2012-13, Goa required approximately 3550 MUs of power.
Based on a targeted GSDP growth rate of 12%, the requirement of power is expected to grow by around 5% every year. The state government had obtained an allocation in the Gare Pelma, Sector III Coal Block at Chhattisgarh from the Government of India. The coal block had the potential to power an 1800 MW power plant. An agreement was entered with KSK to provide a minimum power of 15% i.e. around 270 MW to the state of Goa.
Government of Goa also had the first right of refusal for another 10% power ie around 180 MW from the power plant. The total availability of power from the coal block was 450 MW. 100 MW of power from the project was expected to be available to Goa by mid-2014 with the remaining to be made available towards the end of this year. A questionnaire sent to KSK Energy Ventures Limited in Hyderabad did not elicit a response.
Perhaps Nitin Kunkolienkar of Smartlink Network Systems Ltd should have the last word. He said “We have a powerful CM and he has an ally at the centre and I am sure he will be able to do something for the state in this matter”.
powerfacts
Goa has an allocation of approximately 460 MW from NTPC stations, 28 MW from NPCIL
A small quantum of power (Approx 47 MU) is procured from co-generation plants in Goa while around 16 MW of power is the allocation from a gas-based IPP in Goa
In 2012-13, Goa required approximately 3550 MUs of power
Based on a targeted GSDP growth rate of 12%, the requirement of power is expected to grow by around 5% year-on-year
To improve reliability separation of transformers for industrial and domestic use is under implementation
Government of Goa has obtained an allocation in the Gare Pelma, Sector III Coal Block at Chhattisgarh from the Government of India. The coal block has the potential to power an 1800 MW power plant. An agreement has been entered into with a developer who would provide minimum power of 15% i.e. around 270 MW to the state of Goa. Government of Goa also has the first right of refusal for another 10% power
Separate transformer capacity (110/33/11 KV) at each industrial estate
Total availability of power from the coal block is 450 MW
100 MW of power from the project is expected to be available to Goa by mid-2014 with the remaining available by end 2014
I am sure industrialists will not have a problem paying somewhere in the region of between Rs. 8-9. It will not affect their profitability. The problem here is now that we don’t have a captive source which changes the
calculation. We will now have to go on to the grid and bid for power. This changes everything
Blaise Costabir
former president, Verna Industries Association
I feel Kaiga is a good plant which is operated optimally and which will provide good quality
electricity but power from nuclear energy is not as cheap as power provided by a plant fuelled by coal
Rajan Bhatikar
Chairman, Basic Infrastructure, GCCI
We have a powerful CM and he has an ally at the centre and I am sure he will be able to do
something for the state in this matter
Nitin Kunkolienkar
Smartlink Network Systems Ltd
