Coal only option for power sector: NTPC official

Visakhapatnam: Coal appears to be the only viable option for capacity addition in power sector and there is an urgent need to improve domestic coal production to meet 80 per cent requirements, said V Ganesh, Additional General Manager (FES), Simhadri Power Plant NTPC LTD, here on Thursday. Participating as chief guest at a function organised by Gitam University Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department as a part of Institution of Engineers student chapter anniversary, he said that the total electricity requirement in the country in 2011-12 was 936 Bus but the availability was only 857 Bus. He informed that coal is going to be the main source of power generation in the country for at least next 25-30 years. He observed that almost 1,110 BoP systems will be required for the 75 thermal power stations planned during the 12th plan. He pointed out that due to shortage of domestic coal during the year 2010-11 about 25 mt of coal was imported for the power sector in the country. He mentioned that importing coal is a financial burden on DISCOMS particularly. ``We need to have long term Fuel Supply Agreements (FSA) with 90 per cent commitment level," he added. Bureau of Energy Efficiency Certified Energy Auditor RV Ramana Rao stressed the need of energy conservation and R&D on alternative energy sources. He said that using assembled air condition machines, domestic usage of inverters are an additional burden on power grid. He suggested that the government should fix accountability on electricity usage. He advised the students that they should take up research on geothermal, solar and wind energy sources. The Institute of Technology in-charge Principal Prof. C Dharma Raju, the EEE department Head Prof. KS Lingamurthy and student coordinator T Kowshik participated in the function.