Govt allows import of electricity without authorisation

The government has allowed import of electricity into the country without any prior authorisation amidst a serious power shortage.

''Import of electrical energy will not require authorisation,'' the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

The import policy of electrical energy has been revised from 'restricted' to 'free', DGFT said.

This is despite an increase in power generation in the country over the past one year.  Total power generation in the country from April 2013 to June 2013 stood at 238.07 billion units (BU), which was 102.84 per cent of the actual generation during the same period last year.

Of the actual generation, hydro generation accounted for 31278.7 (BU), which is 101.81 per cent of the programme target. Nuclear generation had a share of 7654 (BU), which is 97.14 per cent of the programme target. Thermal generation stood at 198194.33 (BU), which is 99.22 per cent of the programme target.

The possible total generation during April 2013-June 2013 would have been 262.21 BUs (loss of generation, considering 90 per cent PLF is 24.14 BUs), which would have resulted in achievement of 109.54 per cent instead of 99.46 per cent over programme, an official release said.