State demands sufficient allocation of fuel for its power plants

Gujarat has demanded sufficient allocation and supply of fuel for its gas-based and coal-based power stations in the state. State Minister for Energy Saurabh Patel said: “Gujarat has 23 per cent of its installed capacity of electricity generation based on gas,which is highest in the country. Over 4,500 MW captive installed capacity is presently underutilised on account of insufficient availability of gas.”

Patel,who recently attended a conference of energy ministers in the national capital,urged the Union Power ministry to ask the agencies concerned to allocate adequate quantity of gas for existing and upcoming gas-based power stations.

He said coal allocation and supply for power projects in Gujarat have also been inadequate because of which the existing coal-based power plants have been operating at critical stock position.

Even after allocation of coal equivalent to annual contracted capacity,plants run by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL) face a shortage of 11 lakh Metric Tonne per annum.

So as to ensure utilisation of power generation projects at optimum level,the annual contracted capacity needs to be enhanced by the ministry of coal as more than 70 per cent of power generated in the state is coal-based,Patel added.