According to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday, the Punjab government would soon purchase a private thermal power plant to increase electricity output. He promised to release the information soon.
“Conveying happy news to Punjabis…Details would be provided soon, Mann tweeted in Punjabi. “Punjab government is purchasing a private thermal plant in Punjab.
The state-owned power company Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) was one of 12 bidders for the 540 MW Goindwal thermal power plant in Tarn Taran after corporate insolvency proceedings were started against its owner GVK Power, though the chief minister withheld information about the thermal plant.
Mann has previously stated that his administration will submit a bid for a private power plant and that the state had sufficient coal reserves to power it.
To deliberate on the budgetary proposal, a three-person subcommittee was established with Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh as members.
Mann stated on Saturday that the process to buy the private power plant will be finished very soon after his administration has submitted its proposal. According to him, the Lehra Mohabbat and Ropar state-owned thermal plants now produce 1760 Mega Watts (MW) of electricity, and the addition of the private thermal plant would increase that production by an additional 540 MW.
The CM said that with the Pachwara mine’s supply resumed, the state now has excess coal that can be used to efficiently operate these thermal plants. He said that a private thermal power plant is being sought by the state government of Punjab for the first time ever, although previous administrations had sold such facilities.
Mann claimed that even during the busiest paddy season, the state government continues to provide consistent, continuous power to all sectors. He said that there is no lack of electricity in the state and that the state administration has already taken comprehensive preparations in this respect.
