Assam soon to be a power-surplus state

Guwahati: Assam is poised to become a power-surplus state soon, with construction already underway on projects involving 3,200 MW of supercritical thermal power capacity and 4,200 MW of pumped storage hydropower, Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya said in the state assembly on Friday.During the current year, the peak power demand in Assam is projected to reach nearly 3,100 MW, and this demand is expected to rise substantially by 2031 in line with rapid industrial and economic growth.The Governor, while addressing the newly elected assembly on Friday, said that to meet the rising demand of power, the state govt has undertaken an ambitious expansion of the power sector.He added that the projects, construction of which has already commenced, will “significantly enhance the state’s power generation capacity and enable Assam to emerge as a major energy hub of the region.”“My govt has also successfully implemented the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, the national flagship programme. Assam has emerged as one of the best-performing states under the programme. More than 1.25 lakh households have already completed rooftop solar installations, contributing nearly 410 MW of clean energy generation and strengthening the State’s transition towards sustainable and green power,” he added.The Governor further said that with a balanced and future-oriented energy mix, Assam will be able to provide reliable, affordable, and quality power to industries as well as households. “This transformation will not only support industrial growth and investment but also improve the quality of life of the people across the state,” he added.Major energy infrastructure initiatives, including the proposed 3,200 MW thermal power project at Chapar, the Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Project, the Karbi Langpi Middle-II Hydel Project and several solar energy projects, are expected to substantially augment Assam’s power generation capacity and strengthen the state’s long-term energy security, the Governor added.Simultaneously, he believed that rooftop solar expansion under “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana” will accelerate Assam’s transition towards clean, affordable and sustainable energy in the coming years.