Public sector hydro power producer NHPC has said it is generating 5-7 per cent less electricity due to the delayed rains.
“Average data of the last 10 days indicated that there is less generation of 5-7 per cent on a day-to-day basis,” the NHPC Chairman and Director (Finance), Mr A. B. L. Srivastava, told media persons. This translates to less production of nearly 7-8 million units of electricity every day.
In the first quarter of 2012-13, NHPC produced about 3 per cent less electricity as compared to the same period previous year. This is because of lower availability of water.
“The generation in the first quarter has been 3 per cent lower than last year. Last year, NHPC produced 6,200 million units. The sector has seen an overall decline of 4 per cent, ours is less than that,” said Mr Srivastava.
The reason for lower generation is because water discharge is less, as most NHPC projects depend on rivers, the Chairman said.
CAPACITY ADDITION
The company plans to start commercial operation of a 1,212-megawatt new capacity in 2012-13, which would come up after an investment of around Rs 8,000 crore. Of this, the 231-MW Chamera-III unit has been recently commissioned.
Other units that are to be kick-started in the current financial year include Chutak and Uri-II, Nimmo Bazgo (Jammu & Kashmir); Parbati-III (Himachal Pradesh) and Teesta LDP-III (West Bengal).
NHPC spent Rs 13,000 crore during the Eleventh Plan period. It has lined up a capital expenditure plan for Rs 4,090 crore in 2012-13.
WORK resumes IN J&K
Mr Srivastava said that the local issues at the site of Uri-II project had been resolved.
Work at the project has been suspended since March. “Therefore, we will be able to commission Uri-II in the current year,” he added.