Assam: APGCL Plans Projects to Meet Rising Power Demand

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (APGCL) has filed a petition before the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) on annual performance, revenue requirement, and determination of tariff. In this regard, the upcoming projects and current generation status of APGCL were mentioned.

With the objective of increasing its generation capacity, APGCL is planning to construct a few power projects, out of which two are ongoing projects, others are new projects, and some projects are in the pipeline. These projects can be briefly stated as the ongoing 120 MW Lower Kopili Hydro Electric Project (LKHEP), with two units, one of 110 MW expected to be commissioned by January 2026 and a 10 MW by June 2026. The Karbi Langpi Middle-II (KLM-II) 24 MW small hydro plant is expected to be commissioned by October 2027.

The APGCL is also planning new projects like the Karbi Langpi Middle-I (KLM-I) 22.5 MW small hydropower plant to be completed by April 2028.

Also, some new projects are in the pipeline-a pump storage project (PSP) for which APGCL has shortlisted a few locations. DPR for the same is planned to be financed as an externally-aided project by JICA, and the proposal has been sent to the government. Few solar projects have also been undertaken by APGCL-OIL Green Power Limited, a newly formed JV between APGCL and OIL.

Regarding the current status, five projects under APGCL are under operation with a total installed capacity of 529.86 MW and an effective capacity of 391.36 MW. These units are the Namrup Thermal Power Station (NTPS) with an installed capacity of 119.5 MW and an effective capacity of 26 MW. Both units are available and generating power depending on the availability of natural gas and load demand. The Lakwa Thermal Power Station (LTPS) has an installed capacity of 142.2 MW and an effective capacity of 97.2 MW. Of the four units, one of 20 MW is under shutdown from April 8, 2024, due to a damaged rotor. A letter of intent (LOI) has been issued to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for restoration of the unit on November 11, 2024. The unit is expected to resume operation after repairs by the end of February 2025. The other units are generating power depending on the availability of natural gas.

Another project, the Karbi Langpi Hydroelectric project with an installed capacity of 100 MW and effective capacity of 100 MW, has two units, but they are dependent on the availability of water. The Lakwa Replacement Power Project, with an installed and effective capacity of 69.76 MW, has seven units that are generating power depending on the availability of gas, and the Namrup Replacement Power Project, with an installed and effective capacity of 98.4 MW, is dependent on the availability of gas and load demand.

Meanwhile, the 20th Electric Power Survey of India states that Assam's peak electricity demand is projected to increase steadily. By 2031-32, the demand is expected to climb up to 4128 MW. In FY 2023-24, Assam recorded a peak demand of 2576 MW. In FY 2024-25, till now, Assam has recorded a maximum peak demand of 2809 MW. The maximum availability of power from the long-term agreement (LTA) with APDCL is only 1700 MW, against a total demand of 2576 MW last year, and the rest had to be procured from short-term agreements and the exchange market. But the availability of power in the exchange market is uncertain at times.

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