India becomes Net Exporter of Electricity for the first Time

India becomes Net Exporter of Electricity for the first Time

Question: Which of the following is the designated authority of Government of India for cross border trade of electricity?
(a) Central Electricity Authority
(b) National Thermal Power Corporation
(c) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(d) None of the Above.
Ans: (a)

  • As per Central Electricity Authority India has turned around from a net importer of electricity to Net Exporter of electricity for the 1st time.
  • During the current year 2016-17 (April to February 2017), India has exported around 5,798 Million Units to Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar which is 213 Million units more than the import of around 5,585 Million units from Bhutan.
  • Export to Nepal and Bangladesh increased 2.5 and 2.8 times respectively in last three years.
  • From the beginning of the cross border trade of electricity in mid-Eighties, India has been importing power from Bhutan and marginally exporting to Nepal. On an average Bhutan has been supplying around 5,000- 5500 Million units to India.
  • India had also been exporting around 190 MW power to Nepal over 12 cross border interconnections at 11kV, 33kV and 132 kV level.
  • The export of power to Nepal further increased by around 145 MW with commissioning of Muzaffarpur (India)– Dhalkhebar(Nepal) 400kV line (being operated at 132 kV) in 2016.
  • Export of power to Bangladesh from India got further boost with commissioning of 1st cross border Interconnection between Baharampur in India and Bheramara in Bangladesh at 400kV in September 2013. It was further augmented by commissioning of 2nd cross border Interconnection between Surjyamaninagar (Tripura) in India and South Comilla in Bangladesh. At present around 600 MW power is being exported to Bangladesh.
  • It is notable that the Central Electricity Authority is the Designated Authority of Government of India for Cross Border Trade of Electricity.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=160105