SHILLONG, MAR 19: Meghalaya government has projected to generate over 700 mega watt (MW) of power in the next ten years to meet the growing energy requirement of the state.
Meghalaya power minister Clement Marak told the Assembly on Thursday “The total availability of power in the state by 2023-24 is projected at 723 MW,”.
While the state is going to get a total of 260.93 MW from the central share, the state’s own generation will be at 462 MW from the Leshka stage II power project, Marak said while replying to motion on the poor functioning of the power department, moved by NPP legislator James K Sangma.
Marak informed, “This was projected as demand for power is growing and is at 8 per cent during the last 10 years.” According to him, during the 2014-15, the availability of power in the state is only 253 MW of which 159 MW is central share while state’s own generation is only 94 MW in term of capacity from additional projects.
However, the state is expecting to generate 306 MW of power from four power projects during 2015-16, out which 95 MW is from its own generation while 210.93 MW from central share, Marak said.
The four power projects include Pallatana GPP Unit II, Bongaigaon TPP, AGTPP combine cycle and Lakroh SHP.
Marak informed that year wise projection on the availability of power in the state is 356 MW in 2016-17, 371 MW in 2017-18, 387 MW – 2018-19, 387 MW – 2019-20, 489 MW – 2020-21, 611 MW from 2021 to 2023.
Stating that power demand in the state has increased rapidly, coupled with the need for quality power supply, Marak said, “This has put a tremendous strain on the resources such as manpower, money and material of the corporations.”
In spite of the challenges, the power sector in the state has progressed seen from the achievements; Marak said assuring that the state government is committed to continue its endeavour to serve better.
Spelling out the future plans from the new generation projects under construction, Marak said, the Unit-I of the New Umtru HEP in Ri Bhoi will be completed in March 2016 and Unit-II by June 2016 (20MW each) adding the annual generation is anticipated to be 193.0 million unit.
Similarly, the Lakroh Mini HEP in Jaintia Hills District which generating capacity is 1.5 MW is expected to be completed by December this year. From this, we expect to generate 11.0 million units, Marak informed.
Marak also revealed that the Ganol Hydro Electric Project is expected to be completed by February 2018 adding the installed capacity of the project is 22.5 MW with an annual energy generation of 67.0 million units.- By Our Reporter
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