India misses targets for capacity addition and electricity generation

India's power sector only achieved 60% achievement of the capacity addition targets set by the Ministry of Power for 2010-11.

The capacity addition target for last year was 20359 MW, which included 7639 MW by the Center, 6609.5 MW by the states and 6110.5 MW by the private sector. The actual achievement was 12160.5 MW.

However, the 2010-11 figure exceeded the 9585 MW addition achieved during 2009-10. During the 11th Five year plan, a total capacity of 34462 MW, has been, thus far, added in the country, as against 21711 MW added during the entire 10th Plan.

98% of the electricity generation target of 830,769 MU, further, was met during the year 2010-11, with a generation of 218851 MU in the fourth quarter, which was 5427 MU greater than the estimate. The sector-wise break-up of the power generated during the last fiscal was 356908 MU for the center, 343018 MU for the state sector and 116214 MU for the private sector.

The shortfall in power generation in 2010-11 is primarily ascribed to inadequate availability of coal, improper maintenance of existing thermal units and delay in commencement of generation from some of the newly commissioned units.