Lok Sabha Question No. 3501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Capacity Utilization
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3501 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2017

## CAPACITY UTILIZATION

3501.   SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the average capacity utilization for thermal power stations on all India basis has remained subdued at 59.2% during six months April to September 2016 as against 62.4% previous year;
- (b) whether the Government analyzed factors affecting this decline;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  remedial  steps  to  improve  average capacity utilization of thermal power stations which is declining continuously and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES

( SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL )

- (a) : Yes, Madam.

(b) & (c) : Yes, Madam. The factors affecting the decline in capacity utilization of thermal  power  plants  include,  inter  alia,  rapid  increase  in  generation  capacity including  massive  expansion  of  renewables,  conservation  of  energy  because  of efficiency measures and low availability of gas for gas based thermal power stations.

- (d) : The following steps are being taken for full capacity utilization of power generation capacities:
- i. To revive and improve utilization of the stranded gas based power  generation  capacity  in  the  country,  Government  of  India  (GoI)  has sanctioned a scheme supported with PSDF (Power System Development Fund) for  utilization  of  gas  based  power  generation  capacity  for  the  years  2015-16 and 2016-17. The scheme envisages supply of imported Re-gasified Liquefied Natural  Gas  (RLNG)  to  the  stranded  gas  based  plants  as  well  as  plants receiving domestic gas, selected through a reverse e-bidding process.

………..2.

- ii. UDAY  (Ujwal DISCOM  Assurance Yojana), a scheme for the Financial turnaround  and  operational  improvement  of  Power  Distribution  Companies (DISCOMs),  has  been  approved  by  the  GoI  with  an  objective  to  improve  the operational and financial efficiency of the State DISCOMs, which may enable them to procure more power from the generators, thus increasing their Plant Load Factor (PLF).
- iii. Implementation under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated  Power  Development  System  (IPDS)  for strengthening of subtransmission  and  distribution  networks  and  for  segregation  of  agriculture feeders to give adequate and reliable supply and reduce line losses.
- iv. With "24x7 Power for All" initiative taken jointly with the State Governments, the  access  to  electricity  would  increase  and  accordingly  the  electricity demand  would  also increase leading to increased utilisation of power generation. Plan for 35 out of 36 States/UTs have already been prepared and are under implementation.
- v. Retirement of old and inefficient units. During 12 th  Plan period till September, 2016, a total of 3000 MW of inefficient thermal generating  capacity has been retired.  This will also result in better utilisation of more efficient plants.

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