NEW DELHI: Coal stock of 31 million tonne is available at government-monitored power plants, power, coal, renewable energy and mines minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.
He said the stock position on July 19 was 31.3 million tonne, sufficient to operate the power plants for 23 days as against the normative stock requirement of 21 days.
At the end of April, the coal stock at power plants was 34.94 million tonne as against 29.76 million tonne at the end of April 2015.
As on March 31, the coal stock was 38.87 million tonne, which is the highest in the last four years, he said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
NEW DELHI: Overall power deficit during the April-June quarter this fiscal was 0.9 per cent while the peak deficit was 2 per cent, Parliament was informed today.
“As per information given by states/UTs to the Central Electricity Authority, the gap between demand and supply of electricity has been brought down to the lowest ever 2.1 per cent during 2015-16 which has further reduced to 0.9 per cent during 2016-17 (April-June, 2016),” Power Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to the RajyaSabha today
According to a statement, against the overall demand of 295.34 billion units in April-June, 292.82 billion units were supplied, a deficit of 0.9 per cent.
Similarly, 149.97 billion units were supplied against the peak demand of 152.97 billion units, recording a deficit of 2 per cent in the period under review.
The minister said, “As against capacity addition target of 1,18,537 mw (including 88,537 mw conventional and 30,000 mw renewable) during the 12th Plan, i.e. by 2016-17, about 86,565 mw from conventional sources and about 19,500 mw from renewable sources have been achieved till June 30, 2016.”
“Construction (target) of 1,07,440 ckm transmission lines and setting up of 2,82,740 mega volt amp (MVA) transformation capacity during the 12th Plan. As against this, 89,813 ckm of transmission lines and 2,66,033 MVA of transformation capacity have been achieved till June 30, 2016.”
As per the statement, the highest overall power deficit was recorded at 18.2 per cent in Jammu & Kashmir, where 3.6 billion units of electricity was supplied in April-June as against the demand of 4.4 billion units.
Jammu & Kashmir has also recorded the highest peak power deficit of 15.2 per cent in April-June quarter as 2.1 billion units were supplied against the demand of 2.4 billion units.
It is the only state which has recorded overall and peak power deficit percentage in double digits.
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The government said on Monday coal and power ministries are not at loggerheads over seven coal blocks identified for allotment to power plants through tariff-based bidding. “There is no dispute between Ministries of Coal and Power with regard to allocation of 7 coal mines identified for allotment to power projects to be awarded on tariff-based bidding,” Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said in a reply to the RajyaSabha.
These seven explored coal blocks in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are part of 204 coal mines cancelled by the Supreme Court and are included in Schedule I of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, the minister said. The power ministry, he said, has been requested to intimate suitability of these seven coal mines for power projects being planned to be awarded on tariff-based bidding.
Out of these seven, one coal mine Tubed, which is located in Jharkhand, has been alloted to the Damodar Valley Corporation on the recommendation of the power ministry, the minister said. “Environment and forest clearances are to be obtained by the allocatee company themselves,” he said, adding that there is no proposal at present to withdraw these coal mines.
The authority for allotment of coal blocks rests with the coal ministry.
Source Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-ministry-of-coal-and-power-are-not-at-loggergeads-piyush-goyal-2238009
Centre plans to enhance the power transmission capacity in the country by almost three times by 2020, Union Minister PiyushGoyal said today, adding that South India has achieved power surplus status due to various initiatives.
“We have brought solar revolution in a big way to India. In the last two years, there was highest ever renewable energy capacity expansion in wind and solar. In fact, solar energy capacity, which was 2,400 MW in 2014, has now crossed 7,000 MW,” the Coal, Power and Renewable Energy Minister told reporters here.
Stating that gas-based power plants which were lying idle for lack of fuel have now started operations, he said most of these plants are in South India.
The minister said as much as 71 percent of transmission capacity from the Northern and Eastern grids have been connected to South India.
“All these steps put together have led to South India becoming power surplus. They have the ability to provide power 24/7 throughout South India,” he said.
“With all the thrust we are giving to renewable power, we are focusing to further increase the transmission capacity to make it nearly three times more than what it is today, by 2020,” he added.
Referring to the purchase of power between states, he said, “Two years ago when a state like Tamil Nadu had to buy power, it was around Rs 8, Rs 10, Rs 12 or even Rs 14 a unit, particularly in summer months.” “I am delighted to share with you now that on most days, power is available at the same price in North India as in South India…,” he said without elaborating.
“In earlier days, South India had to buy power at five times the cost of Northern India. Now, we have almost got it on par,” he said.
Power Ministry is not pitching for keeping renewable energy equipment out of the purview of proposed GST but wants a level-playing field for domestic manufactures, Union Minister PiyushGoyal said.
“Ideally we should put GST (rate) on imports so that it becomes a level-playing field and domestic manufacturing are not at disadvantage. Today there is an inverted (duty) structure. Domestic (manufacturers) are paying more taxes than imports,” Goyal, the Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister, said.
He was replying to a query whether the Power Ministry has proposed to keep renewable energy equipment out of the GST regime. The proposed Goods and Services Tax law, which seeks to subsumes all central and state levies including excise, service tax and sales tax, is stuck in the RajyaSabha.
Speaking on the idea of keeping the renewables out of GST, Goyal said, “Some manufacturing people did talk to me. I do’t think we should keep it out of GST. My approach is different.
We have to create a level-playing field. So, GST (rate) should be on imports (of renewable).” Asked whether his ministry has made any proposal over the same, he said, “To the best of my remembrance, I do’t think I would have asked for something like that. I believe that we should keep minimum distortion in the GST regime.” Pitching for passage of the GST bill, the minister suggested that there is a need to build a pressure so that the GST is cleared in this Monsoon session of Parliament beginning on July 18, 2016.
Mines minister Piyush Goyal, who took charge of his new office on July 6, has said in order to make the upcomingmineral auction a success, states will have to cooperate with the central government in making land available.
“The states will have to support and cooperate in getting land. The Centre alone cannot do it,” Goyal said at a luncheon meet with reporters here.
The newly-appointed minister also said, he would ensure that better mineral blocks are put up for sale in the coming auctions.
Goyal alleged that the mines that were put up for sale under the previous government’s (UPA) regime were not good quality mines. Those mines were in deep forests or were so small in size that it was unviable to conductmining activities.
Mine auction of non-coal minerals received a lukewarm response from the companies on account of subdued commodity market situation.
Goyal said his effort would be to bring in technology in the mining sector that would help in streamlining the industry. He added that technology will yield greater results for the sector.
BENGALURU: Government is in talks with the US over a dispute at global trade body WTO on a solar mission and would decide on filing suits against the western country based on the outcome of the talks, Union Power Minister PiyushGoyal said today.
“The Indian government believes in discussion, dialogue, consultation and resolution of issues, rather than going through the legal processes, which are usually long-drawn,” he told reporters here.
“Therefore, after having acceded to that request, consultations are going on. Should the United States agree to our point of view, which is a very honest and fair point of view. We may not need to file those cases. If they do not agree with our point of view, we can always file those cases,” he said.
The Minister, who was here to review Karnataka’s coal, power and mining sectors, said the government was on the verge of filing seven of the 16 cases initially after receiving the request from the United States for bilaterla discussions and consultations.
India’s ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was in the eye of a storm after the US filed a case in WTO against the government’s support to the programme.
The WTO had subsequently ruled that the government’s support to the programme contradicts trade-related investment measures signed by India. The solar mission aims to generate one lakh MW of electricity through solar installations.
On ultra mega power projects, Goyal said the union cabinet would take an early decision on the standard bid document which will facilitate auctioning of domestic coal-based four or five UMPPs.
“UMPP is now before the cabinet. I am sure it will take an early decision on this,” he said. The government was looking at making sure that these projects were not afflicted with problems including environmental clearances, which earlier UMPPs faced.
He also said the country was having surplus power capacity, as of now, and there was no pressing and tearing hurry, and would rather do it smartly and efficiently.
Asked about coal linkage policy for regulated sector, Goyal said it could happen any day, adding the government was running a transparent process and there would be an equal opportunity given.
Most of the linkages will be given to the states so that they can use them efficiently for their power purchase.
“Finally, we will have a situation where coal linkage and power purchase agreement will be packaged into one so that the stranded power plants also get chance to re-function,” he said.
On state-run Coal India Limited approving buyback of 10.89 crore shares worth Rs 3,650 crore, Goyal said the investors would benefit from it and the move was a reflection that the PSU was performing ‘exceedingly well’.
BENGALURU: Coal problems are now history and the target is to further boost domestic production to cut down on the imports that will result in savings to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore this year, Union Power Minister PiyushGoyal said today.
“Coal problems are history in India. Last year, the reduction in imports of coal saved Rs 24,000 crore and this year the target is Rs 40,000 crore,” he told reporters here.
The Minister was in the city for reviewing issues related to power, coal, renewable energy and mines sectors with Karnataka government.
From 2-3 days stock of coal available to power plants to 51 days stock, it was a reflection of the hard work and commitment of all mine employees, Goyal said.
He also said the country should look at doubling its mineral output in the next 3 to 4 years and become a net exporter of minerals.
Goyal said he had requested Karnataka government to come up with plans for rapid expansion of output of mines and creation of jobs in the state.
On Karnataka government signing central power scheme UDAY, even though it has accepted only the operational efficiencies and not its financial aspects, he said union government was willing to help the state in every possible way.
“The Central government has been requesting Karnataka government to sort out right of way issues so that transmission lines can be laid out smoothly,” he added.
In the last 2 years, the capacity of the Southern grid has been increased by 71 per cent, he said.
Goyal said there were four ongoing power projects linking various states to bring surplus power from the central grid to Karnataka but these had been stalled for last several years due to demand of high compensation.
Karnataka government had now agreed to provide all assistance to complete these projects, Goyal said, adding, once operational these would help the state in getting additional power.
The centre has also approved a Renewable Energy Management Centre for Bengaluru to support large scale grid integration, Goyal added.
In a bid to increase transparency in mining sector, the government will set up a web portal in a months time to facilitate interactions among mine owners, the Centre and states for speedy response to different queries.
“I have instructed my officials to put up within 30 days an online interface between mine owners, the Centre and the states, so that every query is available on the website, including timelines for response to those queries,” Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines minister Goyal told reporters here. The minister said this one-month period is for creating the entire infrastructure for the portal including software development.
The minister was of the view that this is in the interest of transparency, so that nobody can delay approvals for extraneous reasons. Goyal also talked about District Mineral Foundation under New National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP), which is expected to raise funds to the tune of Rs 6000 crore from mining sector.
The funds generation under the new policy will be utilised for those affected by direct mining-related operations such as excavation, mining, blasting and waste disposal. The fund will also be used to address indirect impacts like contamination of water, soil and air quality, reduction in stream flows and depletion of ground water levels. The minister was of the view that the funds so collected under the DMF would be more than what could be spent in many cases.
Source Link: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/portal-for-responding-to-miners-queries-in-a-month-goyal-116071101042_1.html
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