Hyderabad, Sep 20th: The Centre has chalked out an ambitious program to add 80 Giga Watt (GW) power generation capacities during 11th plan and another 100 GW additional capacity during the 12th plan, Union Minister of State for Power Bharat Singh Solanki revealed. Speaking on the occasion of silver jubilee celebrations of the 400 KV Sub-Station, erected for evacuation of power from the Ramagundam Power Station of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the Minister said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government was committed to ensure power for all by 2012.

The power grid would erect the transmission system for 10,000 power projects of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Andhra Pradesh, including the 4,000 MW ultra mega power project at Krishnapatnam. On the ever-growing power demand in the country, the Minister said it was estimated by the 17th Electric Power Survey that the demand for power in the country would be 1900 billion units and 300 GW by the year 2022 as against 750 billion units and 110 GW now.

Power Grid Corporation's role in strengthening transmission and distribution network assumed all the more importance in view of the new power projects, adding the Corporation had been recognized as one of the best transmission utilities in the country and referred to the recent erection transmission lines in Afghanistan, ahead of schedule under trying circumstances. He said the Corporation had developed an ultra-modern testing lab catering to the needs of the Corporation and also other power utilities in the country and abroad.