Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday reviewed various programmes in the energy sector and upcoming power projects as the state government seeks to achieve quality and uninterrupted electricity supply across the state by 2030.
At a meeting to review of Energy department programmes, it was revealed that 210 grid substations are currently operational in the state, including 15 new substations established over the past two years. During the same period, 788.99 circuit kilometres of transmission lines have been laid across the state.
Stressing the need to ensure reliable power supply in every region, the Chief Minister directed the department to work towards meeting the state’s growing electricity requirements, particularly in view of rapid industrialisation.
The meeting was informed that a 765 kV grid ring system is being established to strengthen the transmission network and ensure uninterrupted and quality power supply to consumers and industries.
Two 765/400 kV grid stations are already operational at Angul and Sundaragada, while similar grid stations are under construction at Gopalpur and Paradip. The government also plans to establish three more 765/400 kV substations near Kolabira, Duburi and Betakholi near Athagad.
Odisha currently has five 400 kV grid substations, while four more are under construction and two are at the tender stage. Plans are also underway to construct another nine 400 kV grid substations.
The government expects around 590 industrial projects to come up in Odisha by 2030-31. To cater to the energy requirements of these projects as well as existing and future consumers, power projects involving an investment of around Rs 16,000 crore will be taken up in the state, the meeting was told.
Modernisation of various existing grids is also being undertaken as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s power infrastructure. Once the planned substations and projects become operational, Odisha is expected to have significantly enhanced transmission capacity to meet its future electricity demand.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Development Commissioner D K Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Saswat Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department Vishal Dev, OPTCL CMD Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma and other senior officials.