PANJIM: Though Goa’s power requirement is expected to increase by 400MW by 2018-19 and the Central allocation falls short by 17 percent, the government proposes to allocate 100 MW of electricity to three of its ambitious projects – Mopa Greenfield International Airport, Electronic City at Tuem and IT Park at Chimbel.
Failing to meet the rising demand, despite signing new power purchase agreements (PPAs), the State has decided to make a fresh petition before the Union Ministry for additional power allocation of 100 MW. The government also wants a new coal block allocation for power generation, in line with the Chhattisgarh coal block, which stands cancelled following Supreme Court directives.
Goa had met the peak demand of 540 MW in 2013-14 which is expected to grow to 934 MW by 2018-19. A study undertaken by the State Electricity Department reveals that domestic power consumption demand may witness a rise up to 1073 Million Units (MU) from the 903 MU in 2015-16. Similarly, industrial demand will go up to 1892 MU in the next three years.
“With resumption of mining activities, the State may observe an incremental maximum demand of about 70 MW for industry,” a document, available with Herald, reveals.
The government has projected an allocation of 60 MW of power for the electronic city, 20 MW for the IT Park and another 20 MW of power for the airport at Mopa. The allocation is marked for the year 2017-18.
The State’s current power allocation from the Centre is 449 MW, which is almost 81 percent of the total requirement. Power is also procured from cogeneration plants – Goa Energy Private Ltd and Goa Sponge Private Ltd of capacity 30 MW and 12 MW respectively and from Sesa Sterlite Ltd of 3 MW.
“As on date there is no power project under construction or planned in the State of Goa. However, to meet the future demand in the State, Goa Government has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with NTPC and NPCIL which will translate into 65 MW of additional power by FY 2018-19,” the documents added.
“Since there is a shortfall in the energy requirement even with the above additional allocation, Government of Goa requests Government of India to provide some more additional allocation to Goa till there is an alternative,” it added.
