Thursday, August 21, 2014: Piyush Goyal, minister of state for power, coal and renewable energy, said on Tuesday that the Centre will establish a 2000 MW solar power plant in Punjab, honouring a request from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Following a meeting with Badal, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and the state’s non-conventional energy minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Goyal talked to the media.
The state-run power generator NTPCBSE will buy half of the newly generated solar power. The Union minister has been told by Badal that the state government will detail about the proposal soon to install 100 MW solar panels on government buildings’ rooftops. Goyal said that Rural Electrification Corporation and Power Finance Corporation will jointly fund Rs 4000 million for the installation of smart electricity meters in Punjab. The state will have to provide the remaining Rs 1000 million for the project.
The state government has been asked to submit a comprehensive proposal for the use of imported coal with low ash content and not indigenous coal. While Punjab requires 8,600 MW power, the installed capacity provides only 6200 MW. Goyal ahs been asked to provide an additional 3.5 coal rakes per day from Central Coalfield Ltd during the paddy season. It will improve coal linkages for Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo power plants.
