11th plan target could not be met due to environmental problems

The Planning Commission and Power Ministry are believed to have reached a consensus over fixing the capacity addition target at 90,000 MW for the next five years. Earlier, Power Ministry had proposed a target of adding 76,000 MW in the current 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), keeping fuel constraints in mind. On the other hand Planning Commission wanted the target to be 1,00,000 MW, as the power demand is very high.

Direct cool refrigerators, geysers and colour televisions will be next in the list of appliances for which energy efficiency labelling is to be made mandatory by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a body under the Union Ministry of Power.

These three are among 10 appliances for which energy efficiency rating norms, denoted by stars, are voluntary. More stars meant more energy efficiency. Such labelling is mandatory for air-conditioners, frost-free refrigerators, distribution transformers and tubular fluorescent lights.

Power companies have refused to ink fuel supply pacts with the miner due to insertion of new clauses

The Coal Ministry has asked Coal India to examine issues, including changes in penalty clause, raised by the power producers regarding the model fuel supply agreement. The move comes against the backdrop of NTPC and many power companies refusing to ink fuel supply pacts with Coal India Ltd (CIL), disagreeing with introduction of new clauses.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under the Union ministry of power, is planning to save 2,308 Mw of energy worth around Rs 11,540 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) by mandating the labelling of electronic products. Of this, 400 Mw, worth Rs 2,000 crore, is expected to be saved from the air-conditioners segment.

The central government has already mandated four products – split air-conditioners, fluorescent lamps, transformers and frost-free refrigerators – under the energy efficiency star-labelling to reduce energy consumption, and identified 10 products on a voluntary basis.

NEW DELHI, May 22 – Assam may be reeling under massive power shortages, but Union Power Minister is still sitting on the proposals to grant long-term coal linkages to Chandrapur and Margherita thermal power plants. Applications seeking long-term coal linkage and Letter of Assurance (LoA) for setting up 60 MW thermal power project at Chandrapur and 500 MW Margherita project were received by the Ministry of Coal and sent to Ministry of Power for recommendations.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency plans to add more products under the mandatory energy efficiency labelling drive bringing in water heaters, direct cool refrigerators and television sets.

However, it is yet to finalise the timeline for bringing them into the mandatory products as manufacturers would also need to gear up to make such products.

Maharashtra regulator starts proceedings for stakeholders' opinion

State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) want to be very cautious before implementation of power ministry’s suggestion on providing open access for consumers with a demand for 1 MW and above. The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has taken a lead to solicit suggestions from members of public and all stakeholders in the state.

New Delhi Power companies may soon be allowed to produce bank guarantee for duty-free import of equipment based on the provisional mega power certificate issued by the finance ministry.

Currently, developers furnish a fixed deposit receipt (FDR) of an amount equivalent to the duty on equipment import for getting tax relief. However, companies feel the current practice locks in a large sum of money that could, otherwise, be used for projects, especially at time when it is difficult to mobilise cheaper credit.

Guwahati, May 16: Buddhist lamas from Tawang have asked Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to put a moratorium on hydroelectric projects in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh as it will damage the ecology and threaten the local culture. The lamas, under the aegis of Save Mon Federation Region, have submitted a memorandum to the minister on Tuesday evening. Tawang district, with an area of 2,085 square km, is crisscrossed by seven rivers in the Tawang river basin and 13 hydel projects have been planned on this river basin at various locations.

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) has been given the "Powerline Award 2012" as the "Best Performing Generation Company of the Country-hydro" category. The award has been conferred based on the judgment of an eminent jury headed by former Union Power Secretary R.V.Shahi, supported by research conducted by Powerline magazine in recognition of outstanding performance of JKSPDC in the Indian Power Sector.