New Delhi: With huge potential to generate power in the northeastern region remaining untapped, the government has earmarked an investment of over Rs 37,400 crore for setting up power projects to add 5,350 MW capacity by 2016.
The Ministry of Power plans to add 5,350 MW power generation capacity in the Northeast, apart from the 3,926 MW which is under various stages of construction.
"By 2016 we would be able to add more than 5,000 MW of power capacity in the North-east," a power ministry official said.
Public sector companies like NHPC and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) have evinced interest in setting up power projects to harness the hydro potential of the Northeast region.
NHPC is constructing a 2,000 MW project on the Subansiri river in Assam and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) is constructing a 600 MW Kameng hydro-electric project.
The region, according to the government data, has a hydro power potential of 58,000 MW and offers great opportunity to both PSUs and private sector to harness this potential.
NEEPCO is also building the 1,500 MW Tipaimukh, one of the largest hydro-electric power projects in the country, for which the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared and the project would go on stream soon.
Subansiri (2,000 MW) and Kameng (900 MW) projects are under construction and the Detailed Project Report for the Tipaimukh (1,500 MW) project is also ready, the official said adding in the next 6 years these power plants would be ready.
Besides hydro, the region is also likely to get its power through other sources of energy like coal and gas.
State-run BHEL and ONGC along with the Tripura government are executing the 700 MW thermal power project at Palatana in the state.
Country's largest power producer NTPC is also constructing a 750 MW thermal power project at Bongaigaon in Assam, which is scheduled for commissioning in 2012.
The total installed capacity of the Northeastern region is 2,285 MW out of which hydropower generation contributes more than half -- 1,110 MW and gas-based is 766 MW, according to the latest CEA data.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 17:37