Continued power disruptions in northern, southern and western regions have forced industrial units to curtail their industrial production (IP) by about 30% in April and May 2014, the loss of industrial production is likely to exceed by 35-40% in June and July, as per feedback received by Assocham from its various constituents in these three regions.
The power deficit that thousands of industrial units suffered in April-May was estimated between 20-25%, the range of which would go beyond 35% in June and July, added Assocham assessment.
'As such, the regions were reeling under tremendous power shortage in April and May and the rains added to it as defects in the transmission system,' said Assocham Secretary General, DS Rawat while releasing Assocham paper.
As a result of this power deficit, industrial production in states of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra would have to be curtailed to the extent of 30-35% particularly in manufacturing units as these have no alternative means to produce power, adds Assocham paper.
The feedback is based on the latest power situation in leading states that have concentration of industrial presence at substantial level discloses that in states such as Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and J&K energy deficits which was around 20-25% in April-May would go beyond 30-35% in June ��'July, added the Assocham paper.
Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are two states in which power cuts exceed 10-12 hours a day and face the worst energy crisis which will further deepen in the absence of corrective measures and therefore industrial locations in these two states would have to curtail their industrial production to the extent of 45%, added Rawat.
Uttar Pradesh, which is one of the industrialized states in the country is facing one of the worst crises with energy deficit touching about 11.2%, facing energy deficit of over 924 Million Units (MU). The state of Uttar Pradesh as per feedback given to Assocham by its constituents is resorting to an average load shedding of 10-12 hours a day.
The state of Uttar Pradesh, which has a power requirement of over 8,282 MU, has availability of little over 7,358 MU with deficit ranging over 11.2%. The situation is no better in Andhra Pradesh where the power deficit is approximately 12.1%. The availability in the state is only 7,976 MU against the requirement of 9,070 MU. The Southern part of the country is likely to suffer energy shortage to the extent of 2,111 MU particularly in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Jammu & Kashmir suffered a power shortage of 20.3% in April which will go around 25% and the gap between power availability and supplies would be around 1000 MU, adds the paper.
Maharashtra has a potential to generate 5,000 MW of electricity through wind energy and another 1500 MW by way of bagasse cogeneration. With the use of non-conventional resources of energy, these regions can become a power surplus state in few years.
Demand side management and also transfer of surplus power from the captive units to the state grids were few other suggestions cited to fight power shortages in short run.
According to the chamber power theft, leakages and transmission and commercial losses were the main reason for power deficit in these states. Use of non-conventional sources of energy especially for domestic usage and street lightning, is another short-term solution recommended by opinion leaders.
Rawat further said that since a few new capacities are emerging in power sector and T&D losses remain untamed to the extent of 50-55% in most of leading states, the power situation is unlikely to be better in next few months even though mercury levels will fall significantly.
Assocham Secretary General also added that lack of fresh investment and modernization coupled with huge transmission losses are responsible for the grave power situation in the country which will continue.
