Odisha government has estimated an investment of Rs. 54,000 crore for improving the power sector over the next five years. “Odisha now faces the challenge of providing quality and stable power supply on 24 hour basis both in urban as well as rural sector. The energy department recently made a presentation before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about investment required in power sector to achieve goals. The investment proposed for the sector is about Rs. 54,000 crore,” said P. K. Jena, Energy Secretary, while addressing ‘Odisha Energy Conclave’ organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce here on Thursday.
Mr. Jena said, “of Rs. 54,000 crore investment, government’s contribution is Rs. 20,000 crore. The investment will be made in generation, transmission and distribution sector.”
The energy secretary said the State government envisaged at building disaster resilient power structures along coastal regions, ensuring round the clock quality power supply for capital city region and smart grid system. According to him, of the projected investment, major investment of Rs. 16,000 crore would be made in transmission while Rs. 12,000 crore in generation.
Addressing the conclave, Odisha Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das said, “the power situation in Odisha in the post-reform period was highly comfortable. Odisha then was in overall energy surplus situation. However, the position has changed drastically due to increase in demand, and no significant addition of new generating units in the State.”
“Peak power demand in Odisha is projected to reach 5,132 Mw by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17). The State is currently generating 3,056 Mw from diverse sources like hydro power stations, central thermal power pool, state thermal power units and renewable sources,” Mr. Das informed.
He said the State was promised to receive around 7000 mw of power as its share from setting up thermal projects.
Despite huge investment queued up in power sector, the State faces critical shortage of power sector contractors in erecting transmission infrastructure.
“Between April 2013 and June 2014, the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) had come out with tender worth Rs. 2000 crore. However, we have found very few participants.
There is acute shortage of service provider (contractors) in this segment which is affecting power sector improvement,” said Hemant Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of OPTCL.
Among others Vishal Agarwal, Chairman of ICC Odisha Chapter and Krishna Mohan Trivedi, Chief General Manager of State Bank of India, spoke on the occasion.
