Power shortages likely to persist as thermal capacity lags power demand: Report

• The report said that power shortages/coal demand spikes in the peak seasons are likely to continue going forward
• As the government is trying to resolve the crisis with the resolution of stressed capacity and increasing coal supplies by allowing imports, lenders are in for good times, the report said

Mumbai: Power shortages are likely to continue in the short-to-medium term on rising demand in the peak season and the persisting supply-demand mismatch, according to a foreign brokerage report which attributed the recurring annual crisis to the slower thermal capacity addition in the past few years.

Thermal capacity addition has lagged power demand that grew steadily at 4 percent annually between FY10 and FY19 as against thermal capacity addition which rose only 9 percent during this period. The capacity addition declined to just about 2 percent between FY19 and FY22 when demand jumped 5 percent.

Thermal power contributes as much as 75 percent of the country's total power generation.

This demand-supply mismatch has been due to multiple stressed projects, focus on renewable, the report by Bank of America Securities said on Monday.

Power shortage, coal demand spike to continue

Besides, harsh seasons and higher economic activity have increased the peak power deficit to 1.3 percent as against 0.4 percent in FY20-21. With new capacity expansion to take least two-three years and renewables generation limited to 10-11 percent on lower plant load factors, the report said that power shortages/coal demand spikes in the peak seasons are likely to continue going forward.

As the government is trying to resolve the crisis with the resolution of stressed capacity and increasing coal supplies by allowing imports, lenders are in for good times, the report said. Currently, seven projects worth 9.3 GW and debt of Rs 45,200 crore are undergoing insolvency resolution process while 10 projects of 10.5 GW and debt of Rs 37,200 crore are likely to be liquated completely.

Power sector NPAs at Rs 50,300 cr

The power sector NPAs are at Rs 50,300 crore and most of the exposure is for State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), ICICI Bank and Axis Bank.

An additional over 27 GW of thermal capacity is expected by FY26 which should help avoid future supply-demand mismatch. Out of the total, the states are adding 15.6 GW and the central PSUs 12 GW, of which 7.3 GW would be by NTPC.

Overall, the report expects 30 GW capacity to come on line in the next three to four years, with 27 GW of new capacity and 3-4 GW from resolved projects.

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