Power and energy in Manipur

Power or electricity is the most convenient and versatile form of energy. It plays a key role in the industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors of the economy and is also the most crucial source of supplying domestic energy requirements. The demand has, therefore, been growing at a rate faster than other forms of energy.

The power supply position in Manipur showed a marked improvement with the commissioning of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project in August, 1984. The demand of power was met mainly from Grid Power and a little from diesel and hydro generation. More emphasis was given to utilize Loktak Hydro Power to the maximum extent possible and to curtail the uneconomical generation of power from diesel generating sets. The installed capacity of power in the State as on 31st March, 2004 was 12.10 MW of which 76.86 percent was diesel and the remaining 23.14 percent was hydro power.

Power Generation:

The installed capacity of power in the state has remained the same as 11,845 KW during 1999-00 to 2001-02. However, during 2002-03 the installed capacity increased to 47,252 KW. During the year 2003-04 the installed capacity reduced to 47,052 KW. In the year, 2007-08, the installed capacity was 46,212 KW.

Hydro Power generation depends on supply of water. The total quantity generated in 1999-00 was 8.29 lakh kwh. which increased to 42.80 lakh kwh during 2003-04. The generation came down to 14.325 lakh kwh in 2004-05 to 3.140 lakh kwh in 2005-06. The total power generated during 2006-07 and 2007-08 were 31.05 lakh kwh and 17.30 respectively.

Year wise Installed capacity and generation of electricity in Manipur:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

District wise Installed Capacity and Generation of Electricity in Manipur, 2007-08:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Requirement of Power:

The requirement of power for all categories of consumers viz., domestic, commercial, industrial, water works and public lighting has been gradually increasing year after another. This has been due to the fact that all the development activities like education, health care, telecommunication, electronic media and computerisation etc. have been depending by and large on electricity. Following table shows the year-wise demand and supply of power of the State.

Demand and supply of power of Manipur:

* November, 2007

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

It can be seen from the table that the demand of power has always surpassed the supply. As per the 16th Electric Power Survey (EPS) of India, the peak demand of power of the state was 156 MW during the year 2001-2002. The demand has increased to 172 MW and 189 MW in the succeeding years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 respectively. The demand met during the same period were 93 MW, 109 MW and 106 MW respectively. The shortfall of the demand has been increasing from 63 MW (40 percent) in 2001-2002 to 64 MW (37 percent) in 2002-03 and 83 MW (44 percent) in 2003-04. In 2007-08, the demand was 145 MW. The 17th EPS has assessed the requirements of power for Manipur as shown below:

Requirement of Power & Energy in Manipur during 2007-08 to 2011-12:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

It is expected to have an increasing trend in the demand of power due to increase in population, enterprises and modernisation/mechanisation of various economic activities but the annual demand assessed by the power department showed an irregular fluctuation which could be examined further.

Availability of Power:

The power supply in Manipur depends entirely on the share of power allocated from the Central sector plants namely, Loktak Hydro Electric Plant, Kopili-Khangdong Hydro Electric Plant, Assam Gas Based Power Plant at Kathalguri and Agartala Gas Turbine power plant at Ramchandranagar, Eastern Regional Electricity Board, Meghalaya State Electricity Board, Ranganadi Hydro Electric Plant and Doyang Hydro Electric Plant in the North Eastern region. The availability, however, decreases in the lean season when the generation is reduced following the recession of water levels in the rain fed reservoirs of the Central sector Hydel plants. Sometimes, the availability of the power from these plants was so poor that even the demand of vital installations like hospital, radio station, doordarshan kendra and other telecommunication stations could not be met. When the water levels in the Hydel plants went down below minimum draw down level, the generation is likely to be stopped anytime if rain does not come.

Therefore, the shortage of power is the major cause for the slow development in the state. The state continues to be deficit in electric energy. Purchases of power from outside the state have been rising at a higher rate. The total purchased quantity for 1994-95 was 2383.21 lakh kwh of the total availability. This has risen to 5720.30 lakh kwh i.e. 140.01 percent of the availability during 2007-08. As per 16th & 17th EPS of Central Electricity Authority, the estimated requirement of power has increased from 324.1 MU (Million Units) during 1994-95 to 641 MU during 2007-08 showing an increase of 97.78 percent over the period. The per capita availability of power has been rising and stood at 246.06 units in 2007-08.

Power availability in respect of Manipur State:

* The power requirement is as per 16^th& 17^th Electric Power Survey of India.

Note : In 2007-08, energy was purchased from Central Sector Power Plant and Unscheduled Interchanged (UI)

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

The generation of all the central sector Power Project of North Eastern Region are shared among the states of the region as per the allocation made by the Govt. of India leaving 20% as unallocated share. The following table shows the allocated share of power for Manipur from the Central Sector Generating Stations of the North-Eastern Region during the year 2007-08.

Share of Power for Manipur from Central Sector 2007-08 (as on 31-1-2008):

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Purchase of Power:

An expenditure of Rs. 87.73 corres was allocated for the purchase of power during the year 2007-08. The due amount as on 31st March, 2008 was 9.13 crores. The total revenue collection during the year 2007-08 was Rs.12.10 crores. Details of the financial allocation and expenditure incurred for purchase of power during 1999-00 to 2007-08 are as indicated in table which is given below.

Expenditure Incurred for purchase of power:

(Rs. in crores)

* Nov. 2007

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Transmission and distribution:

To distribute the power available from Loktak Hydro Electric Project to different load centres all over the state according to need, the state department has embarked upon laying adequate transmission and distribution network under different schemes and rural electrification schemes.

Transmission System:

During the year 2001-02 installation of 11 (eleven) nos. of 11/0.4 KV distribution sub-stations with a total capacity of 1029 KVA, upgradation of 4 (four) numbers of 11/0.4 KV distribution sub-stations with an additional capacity of 668 KVA, erection of 6 Kms of 11 KV line and erection of 10.54 Kms of LT lines were completed. 49 nos. of 33 KV electronic energy meters and 53 nos. of 11 KV electronic energy meters were installed at 33 KV and 11 KV feeders respectively. During the year 2007-08, installation of 132/33 KV Sub-Stations at Jiribam (2 x 20 MVA capacity) along with associated 132 KV lines (2Kms) is scheduled to be completed and commissioned. Under transmission and distribution scheme, a sum of Rs.7,722.00 lakhs is agreed for annual plan 2007-08.

Rural Electrification:

Manipur is a small state with an area of 22,327 sq. Kms. and population about 23 lakhs people. Over 75 percent of the population lives in rural areas comprising 2,315 inhabited villages according to 2001 census. By the end of 2007, 1966 villages were electrified. Accordingly, the state has made a good progress in rural electrification achieving 84.74 percent of the total villages up to the end of 31st December, 2007.

Progress of Rural Electrification in Manipur:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

District wise Rural Electrification in Manipur as on 31st December 2007:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Pattern of Power Consumption:

The overall consumption of electricity decreased from 1880.02 lakh kwh in 2005-2006 to 1874.08 lakh kwh in 2006-2007. The pattern of consumption of power in the state shows that the domestic consumption was highest compared to others. However, in 2007-08, it rose to 1974.04 lakh kw. In 2007-08, domestic consumption accounted for 59.73 percent of the total followed by 27.64 percent and 6.42 percent consumption by public water work and bulk water supply work and commercial & small power sector respectively.

Category-wise Number of Consumers and Consumption of Power in Manipur:

Note : Per capita consumption is calculated by using Projected population.

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Power Development:

Manipur has no sufficient generation of its own but it needs more power to meet the growing demand. Electricity has become an essential commodity and therefore it requires attention of all sections of the society viz. non-government organizations, social workers and general public besides the Government.

Power Scenario of Manipur:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09