Power minister Nandita Gorlosa on Monday said in the assembly the power department has taken up various projects to meet the demand and to make the state independent in power generation.
He was replying to a question raised by Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi. Assam generates only 17% of the power required on its own and purchases the rest from different sources, including thermal and gas-based power plants. She informed the house that Assam Power Generation Company Limited (APGCL) had planned the construction of six renewable power projects in the state to meet the demand, as well as for economic development, and to help mitigate climate change.
The APGCL has targeted to generate over 814 MW of power from the six renewable power projects that are likely to be completed by the end of 2027. In the meanwhile, the minister said two big solar power plants are under construction under Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) from where a total of 1320 MW of power is likely to be generated.
On the other hand, the APDCL has also planned to set up three more power plant projects in a joint venture with NLC India Renewable Limited, SJVN Green Energy Limited and ONGC Tripura Power Company Limited separately. The govt aims to generate 2250 MW of power from these plants.
The minister also told the House that an agreement between the state govt and the NHPC to execute the 2000-MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project on the Subansiri was made in 2019. She added that Assam will get 25 MW from the project for free and purchase 208 MW.
Gorlosa informed the House that the average demand for power last year was 1584 MW and peak-hour demand during summer was 2540 MW.
