For the first time in FY21, there were some positive signs with respect to new 765kV transmission lines, in February 2021.
According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), 538 ckm of new 765kV lines were added in February 2021. This was the first month where new 765kV lines were commissioned, right through FY21. During the first ten months (April 2020 to January 2021), a mere 2 ckm of 765kV lines were commissioned.
The achievement of 538 ckm came about through a single project – the 765kV Ranchi-Medinipur double-circuit line traversing Jharkhand and West Bengal. This line is part of an interstate power transmission scheme being developed by Powergrid Medinipur Jeerat Transmission Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, under the TBCB modality. Interestingly, this was the only 765kV transmission line targeted for completion in FY21, by Central government entities (read PGCIL).
The overall target for 765kV line addition for FY21 is 2,487 ckm. The shortfall in target achievement is going to arise from the state government and private sector. State government entities were expected to add 889 ckm of 765kV lines in FY21, while the corresponding addition from private sector entities was even higher at 1,060 ckm. However, neither of these ownership groups could add even a single ckm of 765kV lines, till the end of February 2021.
The state government sector did relatively better in the 220kV and 400kV regime. State power transmission utilities could put up 4,597 ckm of 220kV lines, against the target of 4,872 ckm for the April-February period of FY21. This gives a target-achievement of around 94 per cent. For the full year FY21, the target for 220kV lines is 5,379 ckm.
400kV lines
Speaking of 400kV lines, state transmission utilities did not perform satisfactorily. In the face of a 1,559-ckm target for the April-February period of FY21, the actual addition was 899 ckm. Interestingly, both Central government agencies and the private sector did well in this regime. Central agencies commissioned 1,768 ckm of 400kV lines, surpassing the planned 1,227 ckm. The private sector also saw 1,020 ckm of new 400kV lines, while the target was lower at 839 ckm.
Overall performance
Across all ownership groups and voltage classes (including HVDC), a total of 12,369 ckm of new transmission lines were commissioned in the first eleven months (April to February) of FY21. This fell short of the targeted 15,147 ckm by around 18 per cent. For the full year FY21, the targeted addition is 15,791 ckm.
Summary
In summary, the 765kV class was the under-performer. The targeted addition of FY21 (full year) is 2,487 ckm and with just 540 ckm added in the first eleven months, target attainment remains elusive. Much of the 765kV lines addition was expected from interstate and interregional TBCB schemes. However, with not even a single project bid out during calendar year 2020, the poor performance in FY21 should not come as a big surprise.
Five in 2021
It may be mentioned that in calendar 2021 so far, five TBCB projects have been bid out, and all of them were clinched by PGCIL. (Read more). This should boost the performance of 765kV line addition from the fourth quarter of FY21 onwards.
(Featured photograph for illustration only)
