Work on ideal power mix, add nuclear capacity: Manohar Lal to States
Power Minister Manohar Lal urged southern states to ensure resource adequacy and a diverse power generation mix, including nuclear, while addressing intra-state transmission challenges. He emphasized leveraging the ₹1.5 lakh crore interest-free loan for infrastructure development and promoting renewable energy with storage.
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Power minister Manohar Lal on Friday said resource adequacy and necessary power generation capacity tie-ups should be ensured by states. States should, while meeting their resource adequacy plan , also work on having an adequate power generation mix, including addition of nuclear generation capacity, Lal said while addressing the regional power conference with southern states.Lal said states should work towards resolving the intra-state transmission sector challenges, including 'right of way' issues.He emphasized the need to adopt guidelines issued by the central government in this regard.States should leverage the scheme announced in Union Budget 2025-26 including the scheme of ₹1.5 lakh crore interest-free loan to states for 50-year for infrastructure development.Lal urged states to submit proposals for third phase of the Green Energy Corridor and asked to promote renewable energy coupled with storage solutions so as to have energy reliability and to collectively meet India's international climate commitments under the UNFCCC.Power secretary Pankaj Agarwal, who also addressed the conference, highlighted that it is crucial to ensure necessary power generation capacity tie-ups as per the resource adequacy plan for up to FY35 to meet future power demand.He added that It is imperative to make necessary arrangements for development of inter-state and intra-state transmission capacities through various financing models available including tariff-based competitive bidding , regulated tariff mechanism, budgetary support or monetization of existing assets.States should make all efforts for securing the power sector infrastructure, including the transmission grid and distribution systems, against cyber security concerns and should implement necessary cyber security protocols for the same, he added.In addition, states should work towards ensuring financial viability of distribution utilities, he said.
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