Ready to meet 270 GW peak power demand this summer, says Centre

The Union Government is ready to meet peak power demand of 270 gigawatt this summer and will mandate all thermal plants that use imported coal to run at full capacity.

The Power Ministry has already invoked gas tenders for 1800 MW supply and will also enforce Section 11 of the Electricity Act, if need be, to meet peak demand.

This was stated by Secretary (Power) Pankaj Agarwal in the presence of Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar who added India would launch the carbon credit market in 2026 enabling trading of carbon credits and to encourage clean energy. The minister added by 2030, peak power demand would hit 335 MW.

Last year, the ministry met the highest-ever peak summer demand of 250 GW.

Agarwal added thermal plants had 51 million tonne coal available, sufficient to produce power for 21 days.

Khattar said right of way guidelines that impeded acquisition of land in urban areas for laying of power lines would soon be amended.