Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued an amendment to the procedure for approval and facilitating import/export (cross border) of electricity.
As per the CEA announcement issued on August 14, 2024, Amendment-II to the Procedure for Approval and Facilitating Import/Export (Cross Border) of Electricity by the Designated Authority, 2023, involves clause 7.3.3 as follows:
Clause 7.3.3, Para “The electricity system owned by the Applicant shall not be electrically or by any other means connected with inter-state or intra-state grid of India”
shall be replaced with:
“7.3.3 The electricity system owned by the Applicant shall not be electrically or by any other means connected with Indian Grid (inter- state or intra-state grid).
Provided that connection of such generating stations to Indian Grid may be allowed by Government of India, under provision in clause 8.9 of the guidelines.”
Amendment to clause 8.9
Ministry of Power through its Office Memorandum (OM) dated August 12, 2024, amended clause 5.2(a) and clause 8.9 of the Import/Export (Cross Border) of Electricity Guidelines-2018. Further, the Union ministry of power conveyed approval for modification in Clause 7.3.3 of the Procedure by Designated Authority, which is the subject matter of this story.
The amended clause 8.9 reads:
“Indian generation station(s) supplying electricity exclusively to neighbouring country may be allowed to build dedicated transmission line for connecting to the transmission system of neighbouring country keeping in view technical and strategic considerations. Provided that such construction of dedicated transmission line shall be allowed subject to approval of the Designated Authority, in accordance with the provisions under the Electricity Act, 2003 at the cost inbuilt in the contract agreement signed between entity(ies) of India and the neighbouring countries.
Provided further that Government of India may permit connection of such generating station to the Indian Grid (interstate or intrastate grid) to facilitate sale of power within India in case of sustained non-scheduling of full or part capacity or default notice issued by the generator for any default including delayed payment under the PPA.”
(It may be noted that the underlined part bears the crux of the amendment.)
Background
The “Procedure for Approval and Facilitating Import/Export (Cross Border) of Electricity by the Designated Authority” was issued on February 26, 2021 under the Guidelines for Import/Export (Cross Border) of Electricity-2018. Further, Amendment-I to the Procedure was issued on July 31, 2023.
Featured photograph (source: KEC International) is for representation only.
