CEA to raise capacity through upgrades

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 15. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has formulated detailed plans to add 33,287 MW equivalent of generating capacity by the year 2012 at an economical cost averaging about Rs. 80 lakhs per MW through renovation, modernisation and life extension of existing hydro and thermal power stations.

The Union Minister of State for Power, Mrs. Jayawanti Mehta, released the Perspective Plan documents prepared by the CEA here on Thursday. The documents list out the renovation, modernisation and life extension schemes required to be implemented during the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Plans.

Mrs. Mehta said renovation and modernisation of old power stations was one of the most cost effective options for supplementing the capacity additions.

The CEA Chairman, Mr. R. N. Srivastava, mentioned that out of total thermal capacity of 59,650 MW, about 12,000 MW capacity had completed more than 25 years of their lives. This would increase to 30,000 MW by the end of the Eleventh Plan. As normal useful operating life of thermal generating units is 25 years, the life extension programme for these thermal plants will need to be planned.

Similarly, out of total hydro generating capacity of 23,816 MW, about 9,000 MW capacity, on completing more than normative operating life of 35 years by the end of the Eleventh Plan, will become due for life extension.

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Section  : Business
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