Lok Sabha Question No. 1775 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Addressing Power Crisis in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1775 ANSWERED ON 05.12.2024

## ADDRESSING POWER CRISIS IN ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS

1775.  SHRI BISHNU PADA RAY:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether  it  is  true  that  the  Government  of  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands submitted letters to the Union Government highlighting the issues related to power cuts  and  power  shortages  in  the  Islands  and  suggesting  potential  measures  to address these challenges;

(b) if  so,  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  power crisis  in  the  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands,  specifically  considering  the  suggestions provided by the Andamanand Nicobar Islands UT Administration;

- (c) the  details  of  the  proposed  plan  of  action,  both  in  the  short  term  and  long term,  to  mitigate  and  resolve  the  power  crisis  in  the  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands permanently; and

(d) whether there is a specific timeline established for resolving the power crisis in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and if so, the details thereof along with expected completion or improvement dates?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) : Yes.

(b) to (d) : The steps taken by Government of India, both in the short term and long term, to mitigate and address the power situation in the Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands are:

Short Term Measures

- I. Augmentation of Existing Generation Capacity:

i.  Extension  of  the  operational  period  of  15  MW  NTPC's  Diesel  Generator  (DG) power plant.

.........2.

ii.  Further,  the  tender  has  also  been  finalized  by  Electricity  Department  of  A&N Administration under PPA mode for additional DG power of 10 MW at Chatham, 5 MW at Ograbraj and 5 MW at Bambooflat.

iii.  Augmentation  of  in-house  generation  capacity  to  7x2000  KVA  DG  sets  at Chatham Power House and 5x2000 KVA DG sets at Phoenix Bay.

iv. Installation of 20 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) by Solar Energy Corporation  of  India  Ltd  (SECI)  is  in  the  process  of  tendering  and  also  15  MWh BESS by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is proposed.

## Long Term Measures

## I. Establishment of 50 MW LNG power plant:

Ministry of Power has directed NTPC Ltd to re-initiate the process of installation of 50 MW Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) based power plant in Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) for enhancing the reliability of power supply in South Andaman Islands and Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) has been published on 07.11.2024.

## II. Strengthening of Distribution Infrastructure:

The smart metering works at an estimated cost of Rs 54 crores and distribution infrastructure works at an estimated cost of Rs 462 crores have been sanctioned under  Revamped  Distribution  Sector  Scheme  (RDSS)  to  improve  the  distribution infrastructure in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

## III. Renewable Energy (RE) Plan

A  comprehensive  Renewable  Energy  (RE)  plan  has  been  envisaged  by  SECI to augment the generation  capacity  of  the  islands.  It  envisions  a  total  capacity  of 123.25 MW of solar power, 36 MW of wind energy, 316.2 MWh of BESS and other renewable sources across South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar districts, which shall ensure an optimal energy mix for the islands.

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