Government Allocates Over Half of 80 GW Thermal Power Capacity Targeted by 2032.

The Power Ministry has awarded more than half of the 80 gigawatts (GW) of thermal power capacity targeted for completion by 2032. Over the first 100 days of this fiscal year, the Ministry allocated 12.8 GW of new coal-fired capacity. An additional 28.4 GW is currently under construction as part of the overall plan to add 80 GW by FY2032, according to Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal.

Power Minister Manohar Lal highlighted the importance of maintaining energy security even as India pushes toward its energy transition goals. He stressed that expanding thermal power capacity is critical to meet the growing peak demand and base load requirements of the country’s rapidly expanding economy.

India’s current thermal capacity, including coal and lignite-based power plants, stands at 217 GW. Of the 28.4 GW under construction, around 14 GW is expected to be operational by FY2025. An additional 58.4 GW of thermal capacity is in various stages of planning, clearances, and bidding processes, Manohar Lal added.

HBL