Lok Sabha Question No. 3352 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Power Demand Surge in Assam
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3352 ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## POWER DEMAND SURGE IN ASSAM

3352. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  Assam's  power  demand  is  expected  to increase to seven thousand megawatts by 2041 according to Assam Power Distribution Company Limited and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  current  installed  power  generation  capacity  in  Assam  and  the  projected capacity additions planned to meet future demand;
- (c) the  key  challenges  identified  by  Assam  Power  Distribution  Company  Limited  in managing this rising demand, including infrastructure, transmission losses and financial constraints;
- (d) the measures taken/being taken to enhance power generation, upgrade transmission  and  distribution  infrastructure  and  ensure  affordable  electricity  supply  to consumers in the State; and
- (e) whether the Government is considering renewable energy projects and inter-State power  purchase  agreements  to  supplement  Assam's  energy  needs,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a) : As  per  20th  Electric  Power  Survey  (EPS)  report,  published  by  Central  Electricity Authority (CEA), energy requirement and peak demand for the State of Assam for the year 2041-42 is estimated to be 33,430 MU and 7,006 MW respectively.
- (b) : The  current  installed  generation  capacity  (allocation  based)  for  Assam  is  2,367 MW. The source-wise details are given at Annexure. As per the Resource Adequacy (RA) study  for  Assam,  conducted  by  power  utilities  of  Assam  with  support  from  CEA,  the projected contracted capacity required by state of Assam in 2034-35 is likely to be 8,292 MW,  which  consists  of  2,499  MW  from  Coal,  771  MW  from  Gas,  1,168  MW  from  Hydro, 3,304 MW from Solar, 550 MW from Wind. In addition, 915 MW of storage contracts, 1,495 MW  from  Distributed  Renewable  Energy  (DRE)  sources  and  1,139  MW  from  Short term/medium term/ banking arrangement may also be required.

(c) to (e) : According to Assam Power Distribution Company Limited's (APDCLs), there is no challenge in arranging power supply in Assam. Adequate power supply arrangement has been made by APDCL through Power Purchase Agreements for 2,500 MW. In addition, APDCL  will  procure  120  MW  from  Assam  Power  Generation  Company  Limited  (APGCL) Lower Kopili Hydro Project, 208 MW from the NHPC Lower Suwansiri Hydro Project, 495 MW thermal power from the Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd (NUPPL) Ghatampur, 154 MW from NTPC Talcher and 173 MW from Bhutan's Punatsangchhu Hydro Plant in coming years. Also 500 MW thermal power has been arranged through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) using coal allocation under SHAKTI B (iv) Policy.

Further, in order to enhance power generation, upgrade transmission and distribution infrastructure and to ensure affordable electricity supply to the consumers in Assam, following measures have been taken:

## (i) Power generation through New and Renewable Energy:

- A. Implementation of 1000 MWp (750 MWAC) Solar Power Plant in the State under 'Mukhya Mantri Sauro Shakti Prokolpo' through Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding.
- B. Development  of  1,000  MW  Renewable  Power  Projects  by  formation  of  JV between APDCL and SJVN Green Energy Ltd.
- C. Development  of  1,000  MW  Renewable  Power  Projects  by  formation  of  JV between APDCL and NLC India Ltd.
- D. Setting up of 250 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) by formation of JV between APDCL and ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd.
- E. Installation  of  Rooftop  Solar  Plants  in  residential  consumers  under  PM  Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Number of beneficiaries as on 13.03.2025 is 9,098 and total installed capacity is 28 MW.
- F. Procurement of 70 MW Solar power from Grid Connected Ground Mounted Solar PV Project to be developed under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) mode.
- G. Procurement of 50 MW Solar power from Grid Connected Ground Mounted Solar PV Project to be developed under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) mode.
- H. Procurement  of  200  MW  Solar  power  from  Grid  Connected  Ground  Mounted Solar PV Project to be developed under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) mode.
- I. Procurement of 15 MW Solar power from Grid Connected Ground Mounted Solar PV Project to be developed under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) mode.

.........3.

(ii)    To  upgrade  distribution  infrastructure,  Govt.  of  Assam  has  taken  up  the  'Assam Distribution  System  Enhancement  and  Loss  Reduction'  project  in  the  Assam  under Externally  Aided  Project  (EAP)  scheme  which  is  being  funded  by  'Asian  Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)' for a total project cost of Rs 3,284.04 Crore.

Under this project, 196 nos of new 33/11 kV Sub-stations are under construction along with 2,415 Km of new 33 kV line and 2,272 Km of new 11 kV line in different areas of  Assam. High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) with 3,673 nos. of new Distribution Transformer (DTRs) and associated 1,683 Km of new 11 kV lines are also in progress.

(iii)  In addition, Government of India has launched Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in July 2021 with the objective of improving the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers  through  a  financially sustainable and  operationally efficient Distribution  Sector.  The  Scheme  has  an  outlay  of  Rs.  3,03,758  crore  and  a  Gross Budgetary Support of Rs. 97,631  crores  from Government of India over a period of five years from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. Under the scheme, Smart Metering and Distribution Infrastructure  works  amounting  to  Rs.  7,444  Cr.  have  been  sanctioned  for  the  State  of Assam. These works, inter-alia, include Smart Metering of 63.64 lakh consumers, 77,547 no. of distribution transformers and 2,782 feeders in the State. Further, the Distribution Infrastructure  works  include  re-conductoring  of  Low  Tension  (LT)  bare  conductors, Implementation  of  High  Voltage  Distribution  System,  Bifurcation  of  11KV  feeders, Replacement of old 11kV and 33KV conductors and addition of new 33kV feeders. As per information available, the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd. (APDCL) has achieved physical progress of ~41% under the scheme.

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ANNEXURE ANNEXURE  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.

3352 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 20.03.2025 *************

The current installed generation capacity (allocation based) in MW for Assam as on February, 2025

|                    | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   | Mode wise breakup   |             |
|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|-------------|
| Ownership / Sector | Thermal             | Thermal             | Thermal             | Thermal             | Thermal             | Nuclear             | Renewable           | Renewable           | Renewable           | Grand Total |
|                    | Coal                | Lignite             | Gas                 | Diesel              | Total               | Nuclear             | Hydro               | RES                 | Total               |             |
| State              | 0.00                | 0.00                | 306.36              | 0.00                | 306.36              | 0.00                | 100.00              | 5.01                | 105.01              | 411.37      |
| Private            | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                | 0.00                | 198.44              | 198.44              | 198.44      |
| Central            | 874.52              | 0.00                | 435.56              | 0.00                | 1,310.08            | 0.00                | 422.08              | 25.00               | 447.08              | 1,757.16    |
| Sub-Total          | 874.52              | 0.00                | 741.92              | 0.00                | 1,616.44            | 0.00                | 522.08              | 228.45              | 750.53              | 23,66.97    |

Note:  In addition, 302 MW from unallocated pool of Central Generating Station has been allocated to Assam.

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