Power cuts can soon be a thing of the past! The Govt is pouring Rs 70,000cr to ensure just that

In a move to replace old thermal power plants with the newer ones, the Union government is now mulling over the plans to close down the plants which are at least 25 years old and currently are capable of generating only 11,000MW power.

As per an Economic Times report, the government is planning to invest Rs 70,000 crore and build much improved power plants with a total capacity of minimum 20,000 MW.

According to the officials, who requested anonymity, around 100 old units with capacity ranging from 60 MW to 220 MW has been listed to be closed down in a recent meeting between the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and state utilities. The CEA officials also informed that some 30 super critical units ranging between 660 MW and 800 MW will come up in their place.

The move will lead to a saving of about Rs 40,000 crore on land acquisition as well infrastructure cost like rail and water linkages along with facilities like ash pond and power evacuation lines. Coal supplied to the old plants would be supplied to the units that would replace them.
If reports are to be believed, in India, the a total capacity of about 36,000 MW power is supplied with the technology which is more than 25 years old and that the replacement procedure should take place in different phases.

There are a few plants, which are running in good condition and were recently renovated, hence could work for few more years. However, all such plants will have to eventually close down and be replaced by new super critical units, the CEA officials said.

The guidelines by the Ministry of Coal have already been issued for automatic transfer of coal linkage from old and inefficient units to new super critical units.

According to a senior power department official, "During the13th plan period, generation capacity of about 86,400 mw is likely to be added primarily through super critical units. Land being scarce, utilities need to explore possible options to utilise the existing land and other facilities in most effective manner."
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