Untitled - Ministry of Power

in Eastern & North-Eastern Regions to
major load centers in Northern, Southern &
Western Regions for their optimum utilization,
conservation of precious Right-of-Way along
eco-sensitive areas and to achieve economy
(cost/MW) in long-term.
Phase - I
Number of schemes have already been
implemented by POWERGRID towards
development of the first phase of the National
Power Grid. In addition to few AC inter-regional
links, there are four HVDC back-to-back interregional
links already under operation, which
include 500 MW HVDC back-to-back link
interconnecting Western and Northern Region at
Vindhyachal, 1000 MW HVDC back-to-back link
interconnecting Western and Southern Region at
Chandrapur, 500 MW back-to-back link
interconnecting Eastern and Southern Regions
at Gazuwaka, 500 MW Sasaram HVDC back to
back link interconnecting Eastern Region with
Northern Region at Sasaram. Under the first
phase, all the power regions of the country have
been interlinked mainly through a synchronous
HVDC links and an inter-regional power transfer
capacity of 5,000 MW has been achieved.
Phase - II
Implementation of second phase of the National
Grid has already begun with the commissioning
of 2000 MW Talcher-Kolar bi-polar HVDC link, 9
months ahead of schedule and at a cost lower
by Rs. 700 Crore than the approved cost. The
400 kV D/C Raipur-Rourkela line (East- West
Interconnector) was commissioned in March’2003,
one year ahead of schedule, thereby achieving
the cumulative inter-regional power transfer
capacity of 8000 MW. With this the synchronous
operation of regional grids covering North-Eastern,
Eastern, and Western Regions with a combined
installed capacity of over 50,000 MW stretching
from Arunachal Pradesh in North Eastern Region
to Goa in Western Region, i.e. a distance of
more than 2500 Km, covering an area of 16 lac
sq. Km, has been achieved.
POWERGRID has been giving special emphasis
for enhancing the inter-regional power transfer
capacity to facilitate optimal utilization of available
energy resources. As a result of concerted
efforts, inter-regional transmission of energy
increased from mere 3600 MUs in 1997 to over
22,000 MUs during the year 2003-04. Similarly,
during the same period the inter-regional power
transfer capacity has been enhanced from 1200
MW to 8000 MW.
Doubling of capacity of Gajuwaka HVDC backto-back
link by establishing additional 500 MW
block is already under implementation for
enhancing the power transfer capacity between
Eastern Region & Southern Region. This project
is expected to be completed by Mar’2005.
The second phase of National Grid consisting of
a hybrid system of HVDC & 765 kV systems is
expected to be achieved by the year 2007, when
the inter-regional power transfer capacity is
envisaged to be about 23,500 MW, depending
upon commissioning of planned generation
projects.
Phase - III
In the ultimate phase, a strong National Grid
has been envisaged to evacuate the power from
major generating resources including hydro
projects in North-Eastern Region and large sized
Thermal Power Plants in Jharkhand/Bihar, Orissa
and Madhya Pradesh. The scheme for National
Grid involves development of high capacity
transmission corridor in chicken-neck area
(falling between Nepal & Bangladesh) and
establishment of a ring of 765 kV lines
interconnecting all the electrical regions.
Cumulative inter-regional transmission capacity
of the National Grid would increase to about
30,000 MW by the end of XI plan depending
upon pace of generation capacity addition.
FORMATION OF SAARC GRID
As per an estimate, the hydro potential of Bhutan
is 21,000 MW, that of Nepal is 83,000 MW, and
of Pakistan is 36,000 MW. Bangladesh has gas
potential to the tune of 40,000 bcf. India being
centrally placed in South Asian region, sharing
political boundaries with four SAARC countries
can play a major role in facilitating
interconnection between these countries leading
to formation of SAARC Grid for effective
utilization of Regional Resources.
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN
TRANSMISSION
For creation of National Grid including the
evacuation system for associated generation
projects, the total investment requirement in the
central transmission sector during next 10 years
has been envisaged to be about Rs. 70,000
Crore. Out of this, POWERGRID plans to invest
to the tune of Rs. 50,000 Crore, while the
balance of Rs. 20,000 Crore is envisaged to be
mobilized through Private Participation.
POWERGRID established First Public-Private
joint venture in Indian Power Sector with M/s
Tata Power (51% stake in the JV Company viz.
17