Home Economy Scarce gas supply hampers power generation: Economic Survey

Scarce gas supply hampers power generation: Economic Survey

By IANS

New Delhi : Although domestic natural gas production has increased in India, it is not supplied adequately to gas-based power plants, resulting in idle capacity, the Economic Survey for 2007-08 has said.

The estimated gas supply shortfall for the power sector was pegged at 29.38 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) during April-Dec 2007, compared to the 26.08 MMSCMD in the corresponding period of previous fiscal, the survey said.

A total of 36.31 MMSCMD of gas was supplied to the power sector as against the estimated requirement of 65.69 MMSCMD of gas.

In comparison, 35.10 MMSCMD of gas was supplied to power plants as against the estimated requirement of 61.18 MMSCMD gas in the same period of preceding fiscal, the survey said.

The domestic gas production grew at 2.2 percent in April-Dec 2007 after dipping 1.7 percent in the corresponding period previous year, the survey said.