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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
 Posted - 06/22/2009 : 20:13:18
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Railways to set up own power plants
23 Jun 2009, 0013 hrs IST, Kumod Verma , TNN
PATNA: The railways has taken a decision to set up its own power plants with the help of private sector to meet its increasing needs of energy across the country. Instead of relying on the state government for uninterrupted power supply, the railways would prefer to invest in setting up power stations to run passenger and goods trains smoothly.
According to a Railway Board official, a recent survey carried out by the railways has revealed that the power consumption of the railways is likely to increase by 66 per cent (approximately 20 billion units) annually by the end of the 12th Plan in 2017. It would need to develop its own resources to meet its increasing power demand, he said.
The railways is currently utilising 12 billion units of power annually. In fact, its power consumption has been growing at an average of five per cent every year. The railways has been buying power from the Bihar State Electricity Board at an average of Rs 4.29 a unit for running locomotives and Rs 4.37 per unit for other purposes, a board official said.
According to sources, the proposed dedicated freight corridor and various other new electrification plans would force the railways to buy more power from the state electricity boards to run both passenger and goods trains more smoothly. While the railways is paying high tariff of Rs 5 plus for buying power for domestic supply (power supply to railway colonies) from state electricity boards, it could save almost half the amount if it goes in for a joint venture to set up power generation plant, sources said.
A board official admitted that the Planning Commission had recently asked the railways to revive its old power stations and set up new ones with the help of NTPC to generate more power to ensure run of passenger and goods trains effectively. The Nabinagar plant in Bihar is likely to prove a boon for the railways in future, he said, adding the railways is in need of more such power projects.
According to sources, the railways is currently running both passenger and goods trains with the help of diesel and electric locomotives across the country. Since electric locomotive is more eco-friendly and cheap compared to diesel locomotives, the railways is relying more on electric locomotives. Besides, an electric locomotive has more hauling capacity as well, sources said.
In East Central Railway (ECR), the railways has been paying crores to the state government for purchasing power to run electric hauled passenger and goods trains, an ECR official said.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2009 : 01:50:57
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Posted: Thu, Jun 25 2009. 10:32 PM ISTEconomy and Politics
Railways in talks with NTPC for setting up captive power projects
The proposed arrangement could provide the public sector enterprise with a large captive consumerUtpal Bhaskar
New Delhi: The Indian Railways is in talks with NTPC Ltd to jointly build power plants on 700 acres of surplus land it owns and use the electricity produced to run trains and for other operations.
This could potentially reduce the dependence of the country’s largest passenger and goods mover on power supplied by state electricity boards, which is costly and often erratic.
Building assets: An NTPC plant in Kawas. The company plans to ramp up its power generation capacity up to 50,000MW by 2012. “The Indian Railways has approached us to set up these captive power projects on the surplus land it has,” said an NTPC executive who requested anonymity. “The arrangement is likely to be on the same lines as the Nabinagar project. Discussions are at a preliminary stage.”
The state-owned power utility is in a 74:26 joint venture with the railways to build a 1,000MW project at Nabinagar in Bihar.
Railway officials involved in the discussions declined to comment, citing the ongoing budget preparation exercise. The railway budget is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on 3 July.
Buying from state electricity boards is costlier as commercial subscribers such as the railways pay more to make up for power supplied at subsidized rates or for free such as for use at farms.
NTPC is already in a 74:26 joint venture with the railways to set up a 1,000MW project based in Nabinagar, BiharThe railways pays an average of Rs4.29 a unit to run locomotives and Rs4.37 a unit for other purposes.
The average cost of generation at NTPC was Rs2.11 per unit in the fiscal year ended on 31 March.
The proposed arrangement could provide the public sector enterprise with a large captive consumer. The railways currently uses some 12 billion units of electricity a year and its consumption is growing at an average 5% every year.
“The power ministry, along with the Central Electricity Authority, is examining the feasibility of supply of power to railways from a single source,” said a government official who declined to be named. The authority is India’s power sector planning body.
The Planning Commission, India’s apex planning body, has recommended that the railways buy power from independent producers or get the private sector to establish power plants rather than rely on state electricity boards.
However, a railway ministry official had earlier told Mint that the railways was concerned about the reliability of independent power producers.
“It makes sense for NTPC to evaluate this opportunity as the Indian Railways is the largest commercial organization in the country,” said Gokul Chaudhri, partner at consultancy firm BMR Advisors. “If NTPC enters into this relationship, they will be building an asset base for supplies to a relatively secure customer.”
“However, what needs to be seen is what are the contractual arrangements such as the take or pay clause,” Chaudhri added.
NTPC has a power generation capacity of 30,144MW, which it plans to ramp up to 50,000MW by 2012.
The company turned in a net profit of Rs7,827.40 crore on revenue of Rs42,182.40 crore in 2008-09.
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irse
Forum Admin
India
553 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2009 : 07:17:33
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1000 MW power plant in Nabinagar
http://www.ptinews.com/news/204789_Railways-to-set-up-1000-MW-power-plant-in-Nabinagar
New Delhi, July 31 (PTI) Railways would set up a 1000 MW capacity power plant at Nabinagar in Bihar to meet its power requirements.
The plant will be set up under a joint venture with NTPC, Minister of State for Railways E Ahamed told the Rajya Sabha today.
Railways have already formed 'Bharatiya Bijlee Company Limited' for initiating power projects for it.
In a written reply in the House, Ahamed said the upcoming plant will feed 164 traction sub-stations located in Eastern and Western region of the country.
Railways consumed more than 14,096 million Kwh in 2007-08 for operational (traction) and non operational (non traction) purposes.
Its power needs are also fulfilled by different state utilities and companies like Tata Electric, Damodar Valley Corporation and NTPC.
Rajendra Saxena |
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Rlys to set up own power plants
