Assam's power requirement rises by 38% in five years

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam's power requirement – both domestic and industrial – has increased by 38 per cent in the last five years, but the quantum of domestic power generation remains very low in comparison with this demand.

The State's own power output from various projects can meet only around 10 per cent of the total power requirement. The rest is procured from other sources. The paucity of power generation from own sources has resulted in higher expenditure for the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).

Assam's peak-hour daily power requirement was 1,763 MW in 2017-18, but the figure has now reached 2,426 MW. As a result of outsourcing of power supply, the ASPDCL has managed to minimize load-shedding across the state. Moreover, in view of power supply by outside sources, the APDCL has augmented the power transmission system to curb power loss during transmission.

According to APDCL sources, the increase in demand for electricity is attributable to rise in the number of new industries along with increase in consumption in households due to use of various electrical appliances such as ACs. Moreover, the inclusion of several lakh families under the 'Saubhagya' scheme has also contributed to the high power requirement, the sources said, adding that even the 'Jal Jeevan' scheme is consuming considerable electricity.

The sources said that it is with a view to bridging the gap between demand and output that the state government is targeting to produce 4,000 MW of solar power by 2026. Work on two mega solar power projects under the joint sector is already underway in the state, the sources said.

The sources further informed that the state government is also planning to invest in thermal power projects in other states in order to obtain a share of the power generated by such projects. Of the power procured from outside sources at present, 32 per cent is gas-based, 24 per cent is thermal-based and 43 per cent is hydel and solar power-based, they said.

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