APRIL 20238States and UTs that will tax clean energy projects, obstruct the flow of power between states, and have not paid electricity tariff subsidy dues will not get electricity from the central pool. The Ministry of Electricity also said in an office order that states with regulatory assets would not get any power from the central pool. Regulatory assets come into existence when power regulators acknowledge that the tariffs imposed on electricity consumers do not adequately cover the power purchase costs of distribution companies. Certain aspects will be examined whenever a request will be received from any state/union territory (UT) for allocation of power from the unallocated quota of Central Generating Stations, the order dated March 31st, 2023, said.The ministry will take into account the lack of regulatory assets and the prompt payment of any subsidies announced by the state government to distribution utilities in the consumer tariffs. Lastly, it was added that "allocation of power to a state/UT would be strongly disincentivised if it is found violative in any of the above criteria", specifically mentioning taxes or fees imposed by the state in question on hydropower or renewable energy projects that could impede the interstate flow of electricity. The Ministry of Electricity periodically distributes Central Generating Station capacity to states from its pool of unallocated quota (CGS). According to the decree, states that practise fiscal responsibility and refrain from imposing taxes or fees on the flow of power to other states would be given preference when it comes to receiving this power from the unallocated quota. Domestic steel major Tata Steel India achieved its highest-ever annual crude steel production of around 19.9 million tons, with a growth of 4 percent year-on-year by debottlenecking across sites and ramping up of Neelachal Ispat Nigam. The company surpassed its previous best established in FY22, and deliveries also climbed by 3 percent YoY despite the unstable operating environment during the fiscal year. According to a press statement from the company, domestic deliveries increased by about 10 percent YoY as a result of the company's strong marketing network and adaptable business model. While deliveries increased by 9 percent QoQ to 5.15 million tonnes, the fourth quarter of FY23 saw a 3 percent QoQ increase in crude steel output, marking the largest quarterly deliveries ever. Record domestic deliveries were made in the areas of automotive and special products (2.7 million tonnes), branded goods and retail (5.9 million tonnes), and industrial goods and projects in FY23 (7.2 million tons). The industrial products & projects segment sales were driven by a sustained increase in the sale of value-added products to key segments like oil & gas and retail, while the branded products & retail segment deliveries were driven by record quarterly and annual sales across established retail and MSME (micro, small & medium enterprises) brands like Tata Tiscon, Tata Kosh, Tata Astrum, and Tata Steelium. TOP STORIESTATA STEEL ACHIEVES HIGHEST EVER ANNUAL CRUDE STEELPRODUCTIONGOVERNMENT SETS CRITERIA FOR ALLOCATION OF POWER FROM CENTRAL POOL TO STATES & UTS
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