Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd has said that it expects to capitalise projects worth about Rs 12,000 crore per year over the next few years. This will ensure that the company continues its growth momentum at more than 22-23 per cent per annum.
The Chairman and Managing Director, Mr S.K. Chaturvedi, said: “the corporation currently wheels about 52 per cent of the country’s power evacuation capacity and is investing nearly Rs 60,000 crore more in nine major transmission lines. This capacity addition will further enhance the share of power supply grid as not much is coming in the private sector.”
During his visit to Hyderabad, he said that the corporation owns and operates a transmission network of about 83,400 ckt km of transmission lines with a transformation capacity of about 93,400 mva.
In addition, PowerGrid has firmed up major expansion of its power supply network over the next few years to meet the fresh capacity addition coming up. Private sector is likely to contribute to about 55 per cent of fresh capacity in XII Plan.
The north eastern part of the country has a high hydel power generation capacity. PGCIL is implementing a 6,000-MW HVDC bi-pole line from north eastern region to northern region. With double circuit, this could go up to 1,2000 MW.
“During the XII Plan about 52,000 ckm of transmission lines have been envisaged. As we augment additional capacities and capitalise our projects, we would be able to sustain the current growth rate,” he said.
NUCLEAR PLANTS
Answering queries, Mr Chaturvedi said: “as the country takes up new nuclear plants, PGCIL will play a role in evacuation of power. As and when projects are finalised, we will also take up development of transmission network. There has been concentration of power projects in Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Necessary lines are being set up.”
“We see an order book of about Rs 1,20,000 crore over the next five to seven years. A large part of this will be capitalised during the next five year plan. Each year we capitalise about Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore. It takes about four years to get returns on the investments we make. We are confident of achieving a revenue growth of over 22-23 per cent,” he said.