SHILLONG, March 14: The state government is confident about initiating some power projects within the next fiscal to augment the state’s power generation capacity in line with the new power policy.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma that there are three or four firms which are keen to set up power sector projects in the state ranging from farm storage projects to thermal and solar projects.
Under the new power policy, the state government will facilitate power pump storage projects, he said.
He said the government had identified sites in different locations as having the potential for setting up of power pump storage projects but the same will be certified through technical and detailed study by experts.
“Once that is done, we hope that we will have a clear picture with regard to the pump storage projects in three-six months,” Sangma said.
According to the CM, the pump storage project is one where the water from the river is pumped into storage and released at a time when the rates are higher to make power generation more feasible.
Citing an example, he said that if one were to buy power during the morning hours they would be to get it for as low as Rs 2 or Rs 3.
However, the cost per unit may go up to Rs 10 or Rs 12 if the power is purchased between 7-9 pm.
He said the concept of the pump storage would work better for the state since they can pump the water using the power available in the daytime and release it during the peak hours to be able to get maximum price from the sale of power.
