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10K MW RE By 30′

Bhubaneswar: The State Government has set an ambitious target to enhance its Renewable Energy (RE) production to 10,000 MW by 2030.

This was informed by Energy Minister Pratap Keshari Deb while addressing the post budget press conference here at Geeta Gobinda Sadan on Monday.

“We have launched a new Renewable Energy Policy during Make in Odisha Conclave, 2022. Budgetary provisions have been to implement the Policy. In this budget, Rs. 50 crore has been provided for Green Energy Evacuation Corridor (new scheme) while another Rs.50 crore has been provided for Odisha Renewable Energy Development Fund (new scheme),” said the Minister.

In order to provide 24×7 quality and reliable power supply to all consumers, the Energy department has been taking several measures in power generation, transmission and distribution sectors, he said.

OPGC added 1,320 MW to its capacity in 2019 to ensure energy security for the State. With the present generation capacity of 7920 MW, the State is able to meet the average peak power of around 4,500- 5,000 MW conveniently, the Minister said.

The transmission and distribution infrastructure has grown commensurately with the increase in consumer numbers as well as the growing demands of the industrial & service sectors, said Shri Deb.

Giving a detailed note on the Budget 2023-24, the Energy Minister said that the transmission system availability is more than 99.9 percent in the last 10 years. Provisions have been made in the Budget to address low voltage issues in a few pockets of the last mile consumers.

He said the Budget has contemplated two umbrella schemes, namely, Chief Minister’s Power Development Program (CMPDP) with an allocation of Rs.1,446.50 crore and Chief Minister’s Energy Conservation Program (CMECP) with an outlay of Rs.272.60 crore by consolidating ongoing schemes & proposed new schemes.

More than 100  33/11 KV sub-stations will be commissioned by March 2024 to improve the voltage in low voltage pockets, he said.

For ensuring disaster resilient power infrastructure, schemes like Radial to Ring Conversion Project (RRCP Phase-II), State Capital Region Improvement of Power System (SCRIPS), Disaster Resilient Power System (DRPS Phase-II) are planned for implementation and a budget provision of Rs. 477 crore has been kept collectively.

Under the CMECP, a budget provision of Rs.250 crore has been made for the Household Energy Efficiency Program (new scheme) with an objective of promoting use of energy efficient home/ household appliances.

About 1,000 Energy Clubs are actively operating in schools as part of energy conservation & energy efficiency awareness programs. It is proposed to have such clubs in all high schools.

The Energy Department also continued with its flagship program Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana (BGJY) with provision of Rs.150 crore for 2023-24 to electrify all leftover households by August 2023.

He also mentioned that Rs.415 crore has already been provided to the DISCOMs for providing electricity to the left over habitations & households after closure of SAUBHAGYA in 2021.

In order to prevent electrocution of elephants, a budget provision of Rs.50 crore is kept in 2023-24 Budget under Elephant Corridor Scheme. Another Rs.690.2 crore has already been allocated so far for strengthening of electrical infra.

Additional Chief Secretary, Energy, Nikunja Bihari Dhal said that GRIDCO is supplying bulk power to DISCOMs at an average price of Rs.3.12/unit (FY 2022-23), which is one of the lowest in the country.

GRIDCO’s financial sustainability is critical to the energy security of the State. GRIDCO’s outstanding liability as on 31.12.2022 is about Rs.6,500 crore. Hence, the State Government has started providing soft loans to GRIDCO at 5 percent per annum interest rate & 5 years moratorium period.

The Government has provided Rs.700 crore soft loan to GRIDCO during FY 2022-23 while another Rs.700 crore has been made for the same in the Budget 2023-24.

Shri Dhal said Rs.138 crore is allocated to OPGC and Rs.100 crore to  OPTCL as equity support. Total Budget Estimate of Energy Department is Rs.3,002.53 crore, of which Programme Expenditure is Rs.2,954 crore, Administration Expenditure- Rs.48.53 crore.

All these measures would help in keeping the retail tariff low, facilitate growth of industry & economy and improve the quality of life of our people, said ACS Shri Dhal