India Invokes Emergency Rules to Run Gas Power Plants for Summer
(Bloomberg) --
India has invoked an emergency provision to order its idling gas-fired power stations to operate during the summer, as electricity demand starts to rise.
The order will be valid for the two months ending June 30, part of measures to prepare for the “ensuing high demand period,” the power ministry said in a statement Saturday. India’s gas-fired power capacity of almost 25 gigawatts has been underutilized for years, unable to compete in a price-competitive energy market. Some plants are in a state of decay due to prolonged idling.
The South Asian nation is already in the grip of a scorching summer that’s driving up electricity usage. Maximum demand is expected to reach a record 250 gigawatts with the weather department predicting a hotter than normal season.
Keeping steady power supply will be crucial in dealing with heat wave conditions, ensuring running fans and air conditioners at homes and hospitals as well as keeping water flowing. The national election that starts later this month and concludes early June — coinciding with the hottest months in the country — is putting pressure on the government to cut power outages.
The ministry’s order is based on Section 11 of the electricity law, which empowers the government to force any generating plant to operate as directed in extraordinary circumstances, such as a natural disaster or a threat to national security or public order.
The order, already in force until the end of June for plants designed to run on imported coal, will now be extended until Oct. 15, according to Pankaj Agarwal, federal power secretary.
©2024 Bloomberg L.P.
KEEPING THE ENERGY INDUSTRY CONNECTED
Subscribe to our newsletter and get the best of Energy Connects directly to your inbox each week.
By subscribing, you agree to the processing of your personal data by dmg events as described in the Privacy Policy.
More utilities news
![BloomburgMedia_SH029YT1UM0W00_22-07-2024_06-24-28_638572032000000000.jpg](/media/kixlhdmg/bloomburgmedia_sh029yt1um0w00_22-07-2024_06-24-28_638572032000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133661030689370000&format=webp)
China Greenlights Massive Offshore Wind Project for Shanghai
![BloomburgMedia_SGTHNUT0AFB400_19-07-2024_11-00-09_638569440000000000.jpg](/media/ykwdlzf1/bloomburgmedia_sgthnut0afb400_19-07-2024_11-00-09_638569440000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133658604093100000&format=webp)
Germany Accused of Hoarding Gas Meant for Czech Republic
![BloomburgMedia_SGHC0KT0AFB400_20-07-2024_12-00-07_638570304000000000.jpg](/media/o0jfkgex/bloomburgmedia_sghc0kt0afb400_20-07-2024_12-00-07_638570304000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133659504077430000&format=webp)
Sabesp Privatized in Year’s Biggest Latin America Stock Deal
![BloomburgMedia_SGRX9MDWLU6800_18-07-2024_13-22-56_638568576000000000.jpg](/media/vz3f0u2i/bloomburgmedia_sgrx9mdwlu6800_18-07-2024_13-22-56_638568576000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133657825763030000&format=webp)
Wildfires Erupt in Canada Crude Patch in Threat to Oil Sands
![BloomburgMedia_SGP6PGDWX2PS00_17-07-2024_12-00-07_638567712000000000.jpg](/media/vv1os5oy/bloomburgmedia_sgp6pgdwx2ps00_17-07-2024_12-00-07_638567712000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133656912072430000&format=webp)
SK Group to Merge Energy Units to Help Ailing Battery Business
![BloomburgMedia_SGPCY7DWRGG000_16-07-2024_12-00-07_638566848000000000.jpg](/media/e4spnknq/bloomburgmedia_sgpcy7dwrgg000_16-07-2024_12-00-07_638566848000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133656048073530000&format=webp)
UK Water Watchdog Now Probing All Utilities on Sewage Spills
![MAR 9600](/media/qfxn3mb3/mar_9600.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133655881555500000&format=webp)
Enersol signs agreement to acquire a majority stake in NTS Amega
![BloomburgMedia_SGNCH4DWRGG000_15-07-2024_06-13-24_638565984000000000.jpg](/media/nska0lrh/bloomburgmedia_sgnch4dwrgg000_15-07-2024_06-13-24_638565984000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133654976040970000&format=webp)
The World’s Power Grids Are Failing as the Planet Warms
![Audif1 Bp Showcar.Jpg.Img.1024.Medium](/media/qqhdotsq/audif1-bp-showcar-jpg-img-1024-medium.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133655088561830000&format=webp)
Audi and BP partner for Formula 1 entry in 2026
![BloomburgMedia_SGHXQKDWLU6800_15-07-2024_06-23-53_638565984000000000.png](/media/w3ppn4mg/bloomburgmedia_sghxqkdwlu6800_15-07-2024_06-23-53_638565984000000000.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133654982331000000&format=webp)
European Gas Prices Rise After Global Supply Risks Resurface
![CSIS Thumbnail](/media/o0acqjyg/csis_thumbnail.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133566075809700000&format=webp)
CSIS: long-term LNG demand to reshape global export capacity growth
![Dr Carole Nakhle Thumbnail](/media/gqrpjths/dr-carole-nakhle_thumbnail.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133542056370600000&format=webp)
More women in energy vital to the industry’s success
![Vandana Hari Thumbnail](/media/gz3dyktl/vandana-hari-thumbnail.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133511540022930000&format=webp)
India’s energy sector presents lucrative opportunities for global companies
![OIL INDIA Thumbnail (1)](/media/oddlww2x/oil-india-thumbnail-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133506537128730000&format=webp)
Oil India charts the course to ambitious energy growth
![DNV Thumbnail](/media/chkphnjn/dnv-thumbnail.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133491856590700000&format=webp)
Maritime sector is stepping up to the challenges of decarbonisation
Partner content
![Navigating the trading seas: exploring the significance of benchmarks-1859882229](/media/qlacaiww/navigating-the-trading-seas-exploring-the-significance-of-benchmarks-1859882229.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133613577584600000&format=webp)
Navigating the trading seas: exploring the significance of benchmarks
![New Lng Ship Web 17829](/media/vjrjyypa/new-lng-ship-web-17829.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133179936218300000&format=webp)
Back to the Future(s): the best commodities benchmarks are still physically settled
![Dr Klaus](/media/4eyh2dr0/dr-klaus.jpg?center=0.3953747239980292,0.50683017007953435&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133517897092430000&format=webp)
Ebara Elliott Energy offers a range of products for a sustainable energy economy
![ESSAR](/media/5uafghtj/essar.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133524466961070000&format=webp)
Essar outlines how its CBM contribution is bolstering for India’s energy landscape
![HNC 7611 V2](/media/0dqbya15/hnc_7611_v2.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133517899616530000&format=webp)