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NEW DELHI, DEC 27 :
FREQUENT power cuts, especially in Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad have caused their industrial units loose 25-28 per cent of their planned production in the last two and half months and if this trend is not arrested, industrial units in the region would loose their production to an extent of 35 per cent, according to The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

Slowdown coupled with low demand has crippled the Indian Inc. in general but frequent power cuts have added to the woes of industry especially in major part of NCR, says the latest assessment of the ASSOCHAM for a period beginning October to December 15 on NCR Power Shortages. The assessment has come to Chamber from its members engaged in industrial
production in Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

Releasing the assessment, Mr. D S Rawat, ASSOCHAM Secretary General said that current electricity demand of different industrial locations in entire Ghaziabad has gone beyond 400 MW against its availability which is not more than 200 MW. As a result, industrial units in Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Mohan Nagar, Loni and towards Meerut belt are suffering daily load shedding, ranging 12-14 hours.

Likewise, the situation is equally grave and grim as far as residential units in the districts are concerned but estimates for their power requirement and its availability are not available with the Chamber, added Mr. Rawat pointing out that Delhi which is supposed to have some assured power has been facing power shortages to an extent of 900 MW each day.

In case of Gurgaon, the power demand, particularly for its industrial locations is around 1200 to 1400 MW against the availability factor of around 800-900 MW. The result is on lines as already predicted for Ghaziabad.

However, in Gurgaon, the locations of heavy and engineering industries are more pronounced and their captive power units are unlikely to feed them with required power supplies. The industrial loss in the region is expected to go up between 30-35 per cent and if the power prices are not restored, even marginally by end of current fiscal, the industrial production would suffer heavily. The other units that might lose their clientage include BPO, KPO and even services sector.

The still another belt in which industrial production and export oriented units are concentrated include Noida in which though the power shortages are not experienced on lines of Ghaziabad and Gurgaon but the power supplies in the region are of extremely disruptive nature. This means that the frequencies and hourly power distribution is extremely erratic.

Estimates reveal that approx. 100-200 MW of power shortage is experienced each day in entire Noida region especially in areas like Noida Phase II, Sector 2, 8, 9, 10, 50, 51, 62 and Surajpur belt during winters. If corrective measures are not taken, the power situation would further aggravate and might create even law and order problem for UP administration, warned Mr. Rawat.

The most worst power hit sectors in Noida’s industrial units are in SSI, engineering and spare parts units, export houses, BPOs & call centers and media offices etc.

In case of Faridabad, the power demand, particularly for its industrial locations is around 600 to 700 MW against the availability factor of around 300-400 MW and industrial units are facing daily power cuts of 8-10 hours. This power shortage has impacted the production capacity in places like Mathura Road, Sector 23, 24 etc.

The power shortages have not only hit industrial units in the NCR but it is being eroding efficiencies, productivity in hospitals, and even police stations, post offices, banks, educational institutions and corporate offices and if not arrested now, may lead to alarming situation, adds ASSOCHAM assessment.

The ASSOCHAM has, therefore, mooted the proposal for the formation of unified power authority for the NCR which will bring uniformity in power supply and uniform power tariff within the region. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, DEC 05 :
BUCKING the global recessionary trend, Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has secured a contract for ‘Price Agreement (rate contract) for 126 MW rating Gas Turbine Generator packages’ from the Sultanate of Oman. This rate contract has been secured in the face of stiff international competition.

The rate contract envisages supply and supervision of erection and commissioning of several 126 MW units for various power projects planned by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). This rate contract will initially be valid for six years with a provision for further extension by another 3 years with mutual agreement, during which PDO can buy additional units from BHEL. The value of business is expected to be of the order of Rs.2,000 Crore, over the next 6-7 years.

This rate contract will further strengthen the company's presence in the Sultanate of Oman, with an anticipated continuous flow of business for large rating Gas Turbines for nearly a decade from PDO.

PDO is BHEL’s most important customer in the Sultanate, for whom it has successfully executed four power projects on EPC basis. Significantly, BHEL-supplied sets today account for over 50% of PDO’s installed generating capacity. In addition, BHEL has executed three orders for compressor packages for PDO.

The Sultanate of Oman is BHEL’s most important market and has been a springboard for entry in the Middle East region with key references established in Oman. BHEL has secured and executed 12 major contracts in the past 12 years in Oman. These contracts include seven Power Projects on EPC basis from diverse Sectors viz. Petroleum Sector (Petroleum Development Oman); Utility (Ministry of Housing, Electricity & water Oman) and Industry (Oman Cement Company), which are testimony to BHEL’s strong presence and acceptability in the Oman market.

For the contract, the gas turbines and associated equipment will be manufactured and supplied by BHEL’s Hyderabad plant and the state-of-the-art control systems will be manufactured and supplied by the company's Electronics Division, Bangalore. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

INDIA MAY EXCEED 2020 N- POWER TARGET : KAKODKAR

Thesynergyonline Economic Bureau

NEW DELHI, DEC 05 :
DR Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, said on Thursday he was quite optimistic of nearly doubling the availability of nuclear power in the country by the year 2020. The current target is estimated at 20,000 MW.

Addressing the 11th India Power Forum here, organised by the industry body India Energy Forum (IEF), Dr Kakodkar said he envisaged N-power parks comprising 6-8 units of 1000 MW each built over the next 9-10 years. The country's nuclear power programme had hitherto been constrained by limited fuel supplies, but with the signing of the Indo-US nuclear deal and strategies to enhance domestic uranium supplies, "we can well exceed the 2020 target," he said.

He informed the delegates that the country's first fast breeder reactor was under construction and was on schedule to get commissioned in 2010-11. Thereafter, the country's n-power programme would see sustained and
committed activity.

Dr Kakodkar revealed that the country was currently in discussion with several foreign vendors and put a time frame of a year or so before things would start rolling. It was important, however, he said, "to evolve our own model valid under Indian conditions."

One important guarantee India is seeking from any nuclear vendor is a life-time uninterrupted supply of nuclear fuel and the right to re-process spent fuel. This was especially pertinent as to deliver a sustained growth of 8 per cent through 2031, India would need to grow its primary energy supply by at least 3-4 times and electricity supply by 5-7 times.

Dr Kakodkar said that India is fortunate that it already has developed the recycle capabilities, a situation that the world will have to tackle as global fuel sources come under increasing stress.

Earlier, Mr Anil Razdan, Secretary, Power pointed to the urgent need to quickly fast forward the country's nuclear power programme to the second stage so that concerns about energy security are addressed. One route suggested by him was that of synergising the domain experience of the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) with the organisational and construction experience of players like NTPC through joint ventures. The policy makers, he said, also recognise that NPC, despite its immense capability, cannot do it alone and there was need to develop 2-3 players.

Former Secretary and CMD, NTPC, Mr D V Kapur pointed to the need to strengthen project management if the targets are to be met. Speakers also highlighted the need to tie up fuel supplies on a long-term basis or if necessary build power plants near the fuel source.

The annual India Power Forum, the premier event in the country's energy sector, focused on the 'Role of Nuclear Energy in Accelerating Power Sector Growth' and highlighted the roadmap for future development. It discussed the issues impacting the power sector in view of the increased demand for energy to sustain 8-10 per cent economic growth.

The forum was attended by representatives of leading public and private sector bodies, state electricity organisations, policy-makers and regulators, equipment manufacturers and EPC contractors, fuel suppliers, bankers and other lenders, legal and management consultants, and researchers among others. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, NOV 28 :
UNIVERSITY of Peftroleum of Petroleum & Energy Studies has taken a step forward and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University of Waterloo, Canada and the Centennial Energy Institute (CEI), for Scientific Research and Educational Cooperation with UPES.

Both institutions will encourage institutional facilitated contact and cooperation between their students, faculty members, departments and research institutes under provisions of this Memorandum with UPES.

University of Waterloo and UPES have current areas of specialization and the expertise at the two institutions; the institutions have extended their cooperation to each other within the scope of the agreement which comprises of three major elements,

Exchange and Placement of students on their co-operative education work-term from the University of Waterloo in departments within UPES or its affiliated organizations in India. Placement of Doctoral Research Students of UPES for carrying out research at University of Waterloo research facilities, under joint supervision of UW and UPES faculty members

Both the above said universities will have Joint research activities and Joint development studies and capacity building activities to improve the basis for enhancing energy security, reliability of the energy infrastructure, environmental performance and affordability of energy services to help improve life quality

Incubation of technology companies at the Research and Technology Park at University of Waterloo

On this occasion Mr. Parag Diwan, Vice chancellor of UPES said, "We are very happy to sign MOU with University of Waterloo, which is Canada's most premium Engineering Research University. This collaboration would lead to joint research for Renewable Energy, Nanotechnology and Nuclear Engineering. This collaboration would also provide opportunities for our students and faculty team members to spend time and attain experience from each others campus for cross fertilizing the ideas".

On this occasion Mr. David Johnston, president Of University of Waterloo said that, "The University of Petroleum & Energy study is the budding name in the field of scientific research and educational sector. We are happy to collaborate with the university and would work very closely in the coming future."

UPES has also signed the MoU with The Centennial Energy Institute (CEI), which is an entity within the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science (SETAS) of Centennial College and Centre for Alternate Energy Research (CAER), which will explore the potential for cooperation and active collaboration to foster exchanges in education, training and research with University Of Petroleum & Energy studies. CEI & UPES have specific areas of specialization and expertise at the two institutions; the forms of cooperation within the scope of this collaboration would comprise of three major elements, (i) Training, (ii) Projects and (iii) Funded Research Programs, under which both the universities would work to give the best ground to the students and the industry.. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 12 :
THE Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has taken a right step to regulate the tariff of short-term sale of power by putting a cap on the inter-state sale of electricity. This cap will not only help the consumers of the company purchasing this costly power but also help the consumers in areas from where electricity is being exported.

“The rates for the short term (less than one year) transactions of electricity have increased substantially. The weighted average prices (per Kwh) for the period April-June were reported to be Rs. 4.08, 4.64 and 7.24 for the year 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively.

It shows the price has increased by 56 percent during the period: 2007 to 2008. This rate can go up further if no action is taken by the regulator”, said CUTS General Secretary, Mr. Pradeep S. Mehta .

Most of the states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu were selling energy to other states in spite of being unable to ensure un-interrupted power supply to their consumers, especially in rural areas.

For example in the FY 2006-07, alone the West Bengal SEB sold about 1865 million Kwh that is about 13 per cent of the total energy traded in the country. “This is very surprising because the status of household electrification in the state is one of the poorest in the country”.

“Though the National Electricity Policy (2005) envisages a healthy competition in the sector to benefit consumers, given the acute capacity shortage, the electricity market is not functioning properly. The peak and energy deficit was reported to be 14.6 per cent and 10.6 per cent respectively for the period April-August 2008. That is why some check on the tariff is justified unless there is some reasonable match between the demand and supply”, Mehta added.

CUTS has further demanded that either CERC or some appropriate agency should conduct a survey to find out whether there was a surplus or it was artificially created by the respective electricity companies to exploit the shortage situation. Ideally, competition should work to reduce the rates in the wholesale market. But, in case of electricity, the rates increased continuously.

“Different caps for the peak and off-peak prices as proposed in the CERC paper would definitely help the power utilities to manage the load effectively in order to reduce the peak demand for power. Ultimately, electricity consumers will be benefited from this move”, he stated.(editor@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, AUG 24 :
OUT of Rs. 6,33,906 crore of total corporate announcements made in the first 6 months of calendar 2008, power sector attracted the maximum number of investment announcements totaling to Rs.1,95,913 crore between January to June 2008, says an ASSOCHAM findings.

In a Chamber Paper on `Sector-Wise Investments for first 6 Months of Calendar year 2008, the ASSOCHAM President, Mr. Sajjan Jindal said, “the top five sectors, i.e. power, real estate, steel, retail and telecom saw capex plans worth Rs. 6,33, 906 crore during the period”.

The investments in power sector proves the priority of the policy makers to ensure assured supplies of quality power to domestic and industrial end-users a few year hence, as a result of which such a huge investments have been planned by various corporates which include Tata Power, Sterlite Industries, Jindal India Thermal Power, Lanco Group.

The power sector contributed a share of 18.64% in the total capex announcements of Rs.633906 crore for the first 6 months of calendar year 2008, points out Mr. Jindal.

The course of the economy over the past six months has been shaped by the whopping capex plans made by the industry majors investing in various sectors and various parts of the country.

The Chamber Paper further points out that rising income levels and growing middle class has also generated massive demand in the Real estate sector in the recent past. The sector ranked second in terms of the flow of funds at a whopping Rs. 1,51,084 crore for the next two to five years. The sector contributed a share of 14.38 per cent in the
total announcements made by the real estate companies like Omaxe ., Uppal Group Developers, Mahindra World City etc.

With the Retail sector growing at an estimated 25 per cent, corporate retailers and real estate developers announced investment plans worth Rs. 89,200 crore for the period January-June 2008 contributing a share of 8.24 per cent in the total capex plans. The corporate retailers and real estate developers like Reliance Retail, Parsvanath Developers,
Videocon Industries have lined up investments to cater to the need of the burgeoning demand of the retail sector.

Falling tariffs rates and aggressive marketing by the major telecom players have contributed to the growth of the Telecom sector. The sector with a share of 8.48 per cent in total investment announcements attracted Rs. 89,100 crore by major telecom players like Reliance Communication, Aircel, Quippo Telecom Infrastructure etc.

Industries in the Oil & Gas sector announced capex plans totaling to Rs. 88,790 crore for the first six months of 2008 over the next two to five years; mainly for setting up refineries, expansion of pipeline to increase the oil production by companies like Hindujas and ONGC, Reliance Industries, OIC etc.

With a number of automobile companies announcing substantial capacity expansion as well as investments in R&D, the Automobile sector attracted investments announcements worth Rs. 49,529 crore for the next two to
eight years. The investments made by the automobiles majors included Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki Ltd, fiat India, Mahindra & Mahindra.

India’s IT sector with its skilled and low cost workforce has planted the country on a global business map. The companies in the sector have lined up Rs. 39,654 crore capex plans for the period Jan-June 2008 for expansion, up-gradation and setting up IT parks, software development centres, software delivery centres over the next two to ten years.

India’s Ports & shipping sector with a share of 2.84 per cent in capex announcements ranked tenth in terms of top ten sectors attracting investments from the Indian companies. The sector announced investment plan worth Rs. 30,690 crore by major companies like Essar Shipping Ports, Jindal Saw (JSL), Shipping Corporation of India, JSW Infrastructure for the development of ports, setting up ship building and repair hub, deep water port etc.

The other prominent sectors that saw investments announcements during the period of study (Jan-June 2008) were energy (Rs. 28,100 crore), cement (Rs. 26,762 crore), hospitality (Rs. 23,340 crore), logistics (Rs. 23,200 crore), aviation (Rs. 20,890 crore), metals & mining (Rs. 8,500 crore), engineering (Rs. 7,435 crore), consumer durables (Rs.
6,000 crore), pharmaceuticals (Rs. 4,475 crore) and education (Rs. 2,796 crore). (npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, AUG 01 :
TO achieve the power generation targets fixed in the 11th Plan period, the government may have to revise the investment in power projects in view of 25 per cent rise in prices of key input materials including cement, steel, aluminum, copper and zinc over last two years, an ASSOCHAM Eco Pulse (AEP) Study has revealed.

With WPI based inflation rate hovering close to 12 per cent and expected to be in double digits for quite some time, the proposed power projects in India could take a hit from increased cost of inputs and a recent down-turn in the core infrastructure industrial productivity, according to AEP Study on “Impact of Inflation on the Power Projects”.

“The Planning Commission has estimated the fund requirement of Rs. 4,10,897 crore for the likely capacity addition of 68,869 MW during the 11th plan. However, considering the recent trends in inflation, this amount is now seen as substantially low. Therefore, there should be an upward revision for the funds to be invested in the power sector to ensure that 11th Five Year plan targets are met”, said Mr. Sajjan Jindal, President, ASSOCHAM.

The key input requirement includes Cement, Steel, Aluminium, Copper and Zinc. The weighted cost of these key input materials for the power sector in the 11th Plan has seen an increase of 25 per cent over the last two years.

Steel and Cement being the most vital inputs for the planned capacity addition with a total requirement of 45.88 million tonnes, constituting almost 95 per cent of the total key input requirements, the rise in their prices may largely impact the costs of the power projects under construction. Between the period June 2006 to June 2008, the WPI for Cement and Iron & Steel has increased by 30.63 per cent and 11.73 per cent respectively.

Impacting the project cost significantly, the WPI for Aluminium, Copper and Zinc has also risen tremendously over the last two years. The prices for Aluminium and Zinc have increased by 17.75 per cent and 45.82 per cent respectively while the WPI for Copper has almost doubled. It has gone up by 99.08 per cent over last two years.

The project cost of the power plants might also see a big upsurge because of rapidly rising fuel costs in the recent times. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for Fuel, power, light and lubricant with 14.23 per cent weight in WPI, consisting of key inputs for power generation like coal, gas and oil, grew much faster than the over-all WPI. The over-all WPI growth for the first six months of 2008 stood at 9.41 per cent while the WPI for Fuel, power, light and lubricant registered a staggering sharp rise of 12.53 per cent.

he declining growth rate of the six core infrastructure industries with a combined weight of 26.7 per cent in the index of industrial production (IIP) could also pose problems for the power projects. The core infrastructure industries providing major inputs for the power plants like cement, finished steel, coal, electricity have witnessed major slow-down in the growth rate for the first five months of 2008.

The growth rate of index for six core infrastructure industries has gone down considerably; the five monthly average growth rate for the six core infrastructure industries for 2008 is recorded at below 6 per cent level (5.92) while for the corresponding period in 2007 it was above 8 per cent (8.02). This significant downturn in the industrial activity may also hamper the pace of power projects in India. On one hand it would dampen the supply of these key inputs for power projects and on another it may put further inflationary pressure on the prices of these inputs. The penultimate effect will be further escalation in cost of the power projects. (npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, JULY 22 :
BHARAT Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has has recorded 32 per cent rise in sales/income from operations in the first quarter of the current financial year 2008-09. The company ended the quarter with its sales / income from operations at Rs.4703.6 crore as against Rs.3569.6 crore in the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.

The company has also recorded growth in its profitability parameters in the first quarter of 2008-09, with its net profit at Rs.384.4 crore, surging more than 33 per cent over Rs.288.9 in the first quarter of the previous

The company has also recorded significant growth in its profitability parameters in the first quarter of 2008-09, with its net profit at Rs.384.4 crore, surging more than 33 per cent over Rs.288.9 in the first quarter of the previous year. Earnings per share (EPS) has risen by 33 per cent at Rs.7.85 on the post-bonus equity.

With an order book position of Rs.95,000 crore at the end of the first quarter, the company expects to achieve robust growth in 2008-09 and beyond.

Spurred by the strong and consistent growth achieved in the last few years, the company has set its sights on becoming a Rs.45,000 crore company by 2011-12. The company has unveiled a ‘Strategic Plan 2012’ that will enable it to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 20 per cent.

Expansion of activities in the market segments that the company operates in is the core element
that will drive its growth strategy in future. The growth planks for the company over the next five years will be driven by ‘Capacity and Capability enhancement’ that will leverage BHEL’s efforts in its core area of power supported by industry, transportation, transmission, exports and spares & services businesses. The implementation of the Plan is being taken up with full vigour. (npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)

TATA POWER PICKS UP 26 % STAKE IN 114 MW DAGACHHU HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PROJECT

Thesynergyonline Corporate Bureau

MUMBAI, JULY 22 :
TATA The Tata Power Company , an integrated private power company, on Tuesday entered into a partnership with The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) to develop the 114 MW run-of-the-river Hydro Electric Power Project over river Dagachhu through Druk Green Power Corporation Limited (DGPC). The project will be executed by the Special Purpose Vehicle- Dagachhu Hydro Power Corporation Limited (DHPC).

Commenting on this partnership, Mr. Prasad Menon, Managing Director, Tata Power said: “We are happy to work with The Royal Government of Bhutan on the 114 MW Dagachhu Hydro Electric Power project. This partnership consists of equity participation and off-take of power by the Company and Tata Power Trading Company Limited (Tata Power Trading) respectively.”

As part of this strategic partnership, Tata Power has acquired a 26 per cent stake in the project, while Tata Power Trading has negotiated to purchase all the power generated from the project.

Tata Power Trading will offtake power from the project for a period of 25 years and the power will be delivered at India-Bhutan Border. The power is expected to be evacuated through the Tala Transmission Link into India ’s Eastern Region Grid. npsinha@thesynergyonline.com

NEW DELHI, JULY 17 :
INDIAN Energy Exchange (IEX), India's first power exchange, was formally launched on Wednesday Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Minister for Power , at a function here. Promoted by Financial Technologies India Ltd. (FTIL) and Power Trading Corporation (PTC), nationwide, automated and online electricity trading platform went live and commenced its operations last month on June 27, 2008; and subsequently posted a record trade volume of 7,383 MWh, on July 14, 2008.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by eminent members of the power sector such as Mr. Anil Razdan, Secretary, Ministry of Power; Dr Pramod Deo, Chairman, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, (CERC); Mr. R.V. Shahi, Chairman, Advisory Board, IEX; Mr. T. N. Thakur, CMD, PTC India Ltd and Mr. Jayant Deo, MD & CEO, IEX.

In his inaugural address, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde said, "The establishment of the first-of-its-kind Power Exchange by the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) is necessary for meeting the demand and supply gap of electricity that exists in the country".

"IEX places the Indian power market at par with the most sophisticated exchanges in the world. The technology comes from an alliance between Financial Technologies of India and OMX Technology of Sweden, the technology-provider to the world's leading power exchange, NORDPOOL, which I believe, is the most efficient power exchange in the world and also the most liquid in Europe ," he said."

IEX has progressed rapidly from being just a concept in March 2007 (when CERC received the first application to set up a Power Exchange) to the start of power trading on the platform this June. The growing number of transactions at the exchange is further testimony to the fact that the industry has been in need of such an exchange to meet the rising mismatch between power demand and supply in various parts of the country.

Mr Anil Razdan, Secretary (Power), Government of India said, "I congratulate Financial Technologies (India) Ltd and PTC India Ltd for such an exemplary vision and mission. It shows a level of thought that is so necessary for any business to be responsive to the needs of the common people. I congratulate all equity holders in IEX, as well as all its Members, for their confidence in what is truly a pioneering development in the electricity market."

Mr. Venkat Chary, Chairman, IEX, said, "It is very satisfying to see IEX goes live. The hard work of the entire industry has paid off with the commencement of power trading in the country. IEX going live has enabled India to join the select group of developed countries which have power trading markets."

Mr. Pramod Deo, Chairperson, CERC, said, "I am happy to know that India's first national-level power exchange; i.e., Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) has commenced its operations. The CERC has issued the guidelines for setting up power exchanges, with the objective of fulfilling the mandate given in the Electricity Act, 2003 for developing competitive power markets in the country. The operation of power exchanges has become feasible due to transparent and non discriminatory inter-State open access regime implemented by the Commission."

Mr. Deo further added, "Promoting competition, I am sure, would result in long-term benefits to the consumers, as has been the experience in other sectors. It is also expected that the power exchanges in the country would also enhance confidence of the private investors as the exchanges would provide ready platform for sale of power with necessary payment security. I wish all the success to IEX."

Mr. Jayant Deo, MD & CEO, IEX, mentioned, "The true spirit of the Electricity Act 2003, of creating "Competitive Power Market" has been initiated through IEX platform. The electricity price discovery on the IEX physical market will provide a transparent, credible and secure reference price for other physical market trades, of the entire power sector."(npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)

STRICT COMPLIANCE OF 'ENERGY CONSERVATION BUILDING CODE' FOR NEW CONSTRUCTIONS STRESSED

NEW DELHI, JULY 15 :
DECENTRALISATION of power production, transmission and distribution by taking local initiatives will prove to be more effective than taking the current cumbersome centralized traditional form of electricity generation and distribution network.

"Setting up small power stations both non conventional and conventional close to industrial and residential areas will help in cutting down Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses as well as supplying good quality electricity at specified voltage and frequency to eliminate
installation of costly invertors, generating sets and voltage stabilizers" said Mr Anil Razdan, Secretary, Ministry of Power, while speaking at the valedictory session of the two day National seminar on "Energizing Urban India" organized by the Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI) .

" Recent record hike in global oil and gas prices has brought India's energy crisis into sharp focus, to address the crisis its high time De-centralisation of generation and distribution network should be given top priority for big commercial and residential complexes. A comprehensive district level plan should be drawn to meet the present and future local
power needs of the area" said Mr Razdan.

" Government is planning it to make it mandatory for big commercial and residential complexes and coming up new townships , which have more than 25 Megawatt demand to have their own captive power generation plants or they should at least meet their 15-20 % power requirements from solar energy." Mr Razdan added.

"Power ministry has already written to Ministry of finance to give tax concessions to manufacturers of energy efficient consumer equipment manufacturers as well as automobile manufacturers who make fuel efficient cars. In Japan the auto manufacturers who have developed vehicles which consume less fuel while idling at traffic junctions are given heavy tax discounts" he added.

"More than 200 experts from engineering fraternity, economists, policy makers attended the two day conference. The main recommendations of the meet include reduction of taxes and levies in energy saving devices, mandatory installation of solar energy equipment as to meet their 15 per cent of power need in new buildings constructed on more than 500 square yards and above , promote use of CFL and LED, ensuring supply of good quality power to do away with power consuming, invertors and stabilizers and development of fast corridors for non stop running of traffic" said Mr K.K.Kapila, president of the conference.

The other recommendations by experts include making installation of motion sensors in big public buildings, to automatically switch off lights when not in use mandatory and use of Combine Heat and Power (CHP) from power generation plants for meeting heating and cooling demand as well regeneration. (npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)