Single rate of power across nation for steel

10 April 2017

Raising concerns over high power tariff, Steel Secretary Aruna Sharma told for a single rate of electricity across the country for the sector. She also said the ministry is discussing with the Chhattisgarh government to seek concessional rate of electricity for the sector in the next fiscal also. The Chhattisgarh government’s concessional power tariff ended in March.

“There has been a serious concern about the power tariff and the Chhattisgarh government has given a concession to steel sector till March. We are working to get (that concession) in the next fiscal as well,” she said here.

She was addressing the valedictory session of a national conference of secondary steel producers. “There is a case for steel ministry to pursue with the power ministry for having single rate of power across the country for steel sector because the variant rates are creating an issue,” she added.

The secretary added that the power ministry has agreed that as a consortium if the steel companies have 26 per cent of share, then it will be treated as a captive power plant. “so you can have a consortium and same consortium, you can use for bidding for mines. This was agreed upon by the ministry of mines,” she said.

Speaking at the event, Steel Minister Birendra Singh too flagged the issue of high power tariff and its impact on the steel sector. “These are some of the bottlenecks where we have to think collectively…States should also have to put their hats together so that there is a uniform policy of fixing of the power tariff,” he said.

Source – indiatoday.intoday.in