India Is 5th Largest Producer of Electricity in The World

According to the Planning Commission, the Indian power sector is one of the most diversified in the world. India is the fifth largest producer of electricity in the world and, while the State Governments account for 51.5% of the total generation capacity, the central sector and the private sector account for 33.1% and 15.4% of the generation capacity respectively.

Sources for power generation range from commercial sources like coal, lignite, natural gas, oil, hydro and nuclear power to other viable non conventional sources like wind, solar and agriculture and domestic waste. The capacity addition achieved in the 11th plan has already surpassed the achievement of the earlier plans.

A capacity of 54,964 MW has been added which has a significant contribution from the private sector and the government is making serous efforts to achieve a much higher capacity addition of about 88,000 MW in 12th plan. The contribution of private sector in capacity addition has increased from 10% in the 10th plan to approx 42% in the 11th plan and during 12th plan; it is expected to be more than 50%. A capacity addition target of 17956 MW has been fixed for 2012-13.

The demand for electricity in the country has been growing at a rapid rate and is expected to grow further in the years to come. In order to meet the increasing requirement of electricity, massive addition to the installed generating capacity in the country is required. It is proposed to add total of 17426 ckm transmission lines in central, state and private sector during the year 2012-13.

As against the Q1 target of 4551 ckm transmission lines, 3267 ckm transmission lines have been added. A generation target of 930 BU was fixed for the year 2012-13.Performance in the Q1 has exceeded the target. As against the target of 222.500 BU for the Q1, 231 BU of electricity has been generated. For capacity building, the government has initiated various measures to encourage participation of private sector in the power sector.

To ensure that the benefits of the increased availability of power reaches the poorest of the poor living in the rural areas, the Government has implemented the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana with vigour and determination to electrify over 1 lakh un electrified villages and to provide free electricity connection to 2.34 crore rural BPL households.

Since inception of RGGVY, electrification work in 1,04,496 un electrified villages have been completed and electricity connections have been released to 1.94 crore BPL households till the end of the 11th plan i.e 31st march 2012. Bharat Nirman targets for electrification of villages and provision of electricity connections to BPL households have been met. It is targeted to complete electrification works in 6,000 un electrified villages and provide electricity connection to 36.80 lakh BPL households under RGGVY during 2012-13.

During 2012-13, electrification work in 818 un electrified villages have been completed and electricity connections to 4.31 lakh BPL households have been provided as on 30th June 2012.