While many states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi are facing a severe power crisis due to non-availability of coal, Gujarat is shining with its power surplus position. The state has sold 13 million units of electricity to the national grid for supply to other states on October 12. Though Gujarat is receiving less coal from the mines, it has enough stock to sustain it at least for the month, if the present power crisis continues.
Presently the state has total installed power generation capacity of 13,354 MW, which is generated by various power plants including coal, hydro, nuclear, gas and wind. Of this, the state consumes more than 10,000 MW. Talking at the inauguration ceremony of the two-day India Chem Gujarat conclave at Gandhinagar, minister of state for energy and petrochemicals Saurabh Patel said, "Uninterrupted power supply is one of the crucial needs for chemical industries, as there can be huge loss if power goes off in between production of a chemical batch, which needs 6-7 hours continuous supply for the process. If the state has load shedding, the chemical industry will suffer. Gujarat is one state which provides 24 hours power supply to industries as well as to other consumers."
Patel further said, "Today, the country is facing acute power crisis because of unavailability of coal at the power stations. We have sold 13 million units of power to the grid on October state. We don't give much subsidies or incentives to the industries but we provide them better infrastructure like roads, water and uninterrupted power which proves more beneficial to them than the incentives. It is our policy."
Giving more information about the power situation of Gujarat, the minister said, "At present there is shortage of 12,500 MWs in the country due to lack of coal supply. Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka are facing power crisis. But Gujarat has enough stock of coal for power generation. The state can endure such a situation with its present stock of coal for at least for one full month."
