India’s power projects to adopt Chinese model

India, which targets capacity addition in time slices of five years (following the five year plans), during the 10th Plan targeted to add around 40,000 mw but managed to supplement only 50 per cent. And now for the 11th Plan that begins in 2007, the aim is to add over 72,000 mw of fresh capacity.

Speaking to The Indian Express, member of planning commission B K Chaturvedi, who is responsible for overseeing implementation of targets in the power sector, said that they expect to award all contracts for projects planned in the 11th Plan by March next year. Till now progress has been made for around 50,000 mw of capacity, he said.

Chaturvedi also mentioned that to ensure quick implementation, they have recommended standardised set designs for 500 mw units and that states had accepted this recommendation as well. He also confirmed that a huge part of China’s success in implementing projects rests on having standardised sets.

Apart from this, the implementing agencies are also going to streamline the qualification requirements which would allow more companies to bid for equipment supply contracts. While more equipment suppliers are welcome to participate in projects, the planning commission is against NTPC entering equipment supply.