Harnessing Nagaland’s hydro & solar potential now crucial

March 5, 2021 59 Views No Comment

Vision document 2021 for sustainable development of Nagaland state power sector released

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 4

The Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN) today released a ‘vision document 2021 for sustainable development of Nagaland state power sector.’ The document stressed on the need to generate power using Nagaland State’s own resources and reduce spending on power purchase.

The vision document describes its mission as towards transforming Nagaland through infrastructure and skill development of the State Power Sector; to achieve structural reforms, professionalism and sustainable power sector development; and to achieve 1,000 kWh per capita consumption.

It was released by Tongpang Ozukum, Minister for PWD (Housing & Mechanical) Nagaland in commemoration of World Engineering Day here today at Hotel Vivor under the aegis of Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Associations (FONSESA).

Ozukum was hopeful that this vision document will be converted into reality for the benefit of all.

The vision document has been prepared covering all aspects of the power sector of the state, said the APEN.

The vision document captures the essence of the envisioned solution in the State’s plaguing power sector and thereby serves as a guide and reference for policy makers, planners and stakeholders of the state. The document aims to give impetus to economic growth and transform the state through the intervention of the Power Department.

APEN stated that the vision emphasises on development of state owned generating projects by harnessing the hydro electric potentials and solar power generation to meet the State’s power requirement and simultaneously reduce the spending on power purchase.

Installation of Rooftop Solar Generation (RTS) and alternative clean power aims to promote ecological sustainable growth while addressing to meet the State’s energy security.

This vision document also aim to suggest ways to provide stable, quality and affordable power supply to all consumers across the state, by transforming the state power sector into a professionally structured organization to meet the challenging demands in all its three core aspects of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

“The Power Department faces an enormous shortage of workers and workforces without requisite competencies. In an era where digitalization and artificial intelligence are driven forces for modernization of power sector, skill development for the entire sector has become imperative. The vision document projects strategies to be adopted in training and honing the skills of the workforce to meet the challenges facing the department and ultimately make power sector of the state a robust public utility,” stated APEN President, Er Penrithung Yanthan and General Secretary, Er T Lithrichum Sangtam.

Presently, the State’s energy demand is predominantly met from the central sector allocation (90%), with its own generation contributing approximately 10% only.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/harnessing-nagalands-hydro-solar-potential-now-crucial