New Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein, on Tuesday highlighted the significant potential of Arunachal Pradesh in the field of pumped storage plants (PSP).
Addressing the Conference of Ministers of Power and New & Renewable Energy of States and Union Territories at Bharat Mandapam here, Mein emphasized the advantage of Arunachal’s unique geographical terrain, particularly its high-altitude regions, for the development of such projects.
In this context, Mein, who is also the power minister, requested a comprehensive survey of the state to be carried out by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO).
A PSP is a type of hydroelectric energy storage which consists of two water reservoirs at different elevations.
When there is excess power on the grid and demand for electricity is low, the power is used to pump water from the lower to the upper reservoir using reversible turbines.
Day 2 of the conference also saw Mein provide valuable insights into the progress of the Comprehensive Scheme for Transmission within the state.
“This scheme is on track for completion by December 2024 and holds the promise of substantially reducing Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses, marking a pivotal milestone in the advancement of Arunachal’s energy infrastructure,” he said.
The conference was chaired by Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh.
During an evening session, Mein held a meeting with Singh, where they addressed various issues related to hydropower projects and the Rural Distribution Strengthening Scheme (RDSS).
The deputy CM during the meeting requested the union minister for early approval for small and mini hydel project proposals from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the state.
In response, Singh acknowledged the remarkable achievements of Arunachal over the past 7-8 years and provided assurance of swift resolution for pending issues.
He also underscored the government’s strong commitment to promoting sustainable energy initiatives in the region.
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