Inputs Sought From Private Companies for Deploying Bharat Small Reactors
The SHANTI Act, passed in December, now permits private firms to engage in nuclear power generation in India. NPCIL has reopened its request for proposals to deploy 220 MW Bharat Small Reactors, seeking input from private‑sector participants and extending the expression‑of‑interest deadline to the end of March. Under the proposed framework, industrial users will construct the reactors on brownfield or greenfield sites, after which NPCIL will assume operations while the users retain the electricity output. This marks a strategic shift toward captive, low‑carbon power for heavy‑industry users.
India's Inter-Regional Transmission Capacity to Hit 143 GW by 2027: Shripad Naik
India’s inter‑regional transmission capacity is slated to rise to 143 GW by 2027 and 168 GW by 2032, supporting an anticipated peak demand of 388 GW in 2032. The National Grid will expand to 6.48 lakh circuit‑kilometres and boost transformation capacity to 2,345 GVA. Current...
Domestic Coal Production Likely to Grow 6-7% Annually over Next Few Years: Kishan Reddy
India plans to boost domestic coal output by 6‑7 % annually, aiming for roughly 1.5 billion tonnes by FY 2029‑30. Production was about 1.05 bn tonnes in 2024‑25, and the government expects demand to peak around 2040. Minister G Kishan Reddy emphasized that...
India Has Potential in Renewable Energy Manufacturing, Project Exports: MNRE Secretary
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said the country has strong potential in renewable‑energy manufacturing, project development and exports as clean‑energy capacity expands. He highlighted a shift from utility‑scale projects to distributed, prosumer‑driven models backed...
Power Demand Spikes as Heat and Humidity Soar in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu’s power demand surged past 20,000 MW this week, reaching a peak of 20,211 MW – the highest daily load of the year and just shy of the all‑time record set in 2024. Daily electricity consumption climbed to 416.284 million units, driven by...
Sunsure Energy Signs Solar PPAs with Daeseung Group Firms in Tamil Nadu
Sunsure Energy has signed long‑term solar power purchase agreements with Daeseung Autoparts India and Ilgahng Automotive, both part of South Korea’s Daesung Group, to supply power from its 75 MW Ilayangudi plant in Tamil Nadu. The contracts will deliver about eight million...
India Announces Standards of Green Ammonia, Methanol to Accelerate Trade of Green Hydrogen Derivatives
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued the first national standards for green ammonia and green methanol, defining strict emission thresholds of 0.38 kg CO₂‑eq per kg of ammonia and 0.44 kg CO₂‑eq per kg of methanol. The standards outline...
Power Demand Continues to Hit New Highs
Telangana’s Southern Power Distribution Company recorded a historic peak demand of 11,129 MW on Friday, eclipsing last year’s 10,310 MW. The Greater Hyderabad region also set a new high at 4,421 MW, while agricultural districts such as Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar and Medak each topped...
PSPCL Defends Revised Distribution Loss Targets
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has revised its distribution‑loss target to 10 % for FY 2026‑27, down from an earlier 12.75 % proposal and the regulator’s 11.80 % benchmark. The utility argues the sharp cut is justified by a time‑bound rollout of smart‑metering,...
Direct Impact of 10% Increase in Oil Prices Estimated to Be Around Almost 1% on WPI: Bank of Baroda
Bank of Baroda estimates that a 10 percent rise in global oil prices will directly lift India’s Wholesale Price Index by roughly 0.7‑1 percent, potentially reaching a full 1 percent when indirect effects are counted. The surge would push oil imports up by...
Villagers Resist Police Probe Into Obstruction of Coal Mining Survey
Villagers in Latehar district, Jharkhand, seized a drone and survey materials used by a coal mining firm for the Tubed Coal Mining Project, prompting a police investigation. The community protested, arguing the survey violated the Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled...
CISF to Get Power to Initiate Legal Action Against Illegal Coal Mining
The Indian government will grant the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) legal powers to initiate action against illegal coal mining, mirroring the authority enjoyed by the Railway Protection Force. Currently limited to guarding ten mines, CISF will gain the ability...
Delhi‑NCR Emerges as a Major Job Hub in India’s Clean Energy Industry
India’s clean‑energy sector has experienced a hiring surge of over 55 percent in the past two years, making it one of the fastest‑growing job markets. The National Capital Region of Delhi now accounts for roughly 44 percent of all clean‑energy openings, outpacing...
Reliance Diesel, Jet Fuel Ships Turn to Asia Instead of Europe Amid Iran War
Reliance Industries rerouted two fuel tankers—about 100,000 metric tons of diesel and 75,000 tons of jet fuel—from Europe to Asia as the Iran‑Israel conflict chokes supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Asian jet‑fuel margins surged to a record $80 a...
Jyoti Structures Commissions 400 kV Line for ReNew Power in Karnataka
Jyoti Structures Limited has commissioned a 400 kV twin HTLS transmission line linking Gadag and Koppal power stations in Karnataka for ReNew Power. The 100‑km line traverses challenging terrain and black cotton soil, completed on a Build‑Own‑Operate‑Maintain (BOOM) basis. It enables...
Ras Tanura Hit Again as Projectile Strikes Saudi Aramco Facility
Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura oil export terminal was struck by an unidentified projectile, marking a second incident within days. The earlier drone attack forced a temporary shutdown, and the latest strike’s damage details remain unclear. Ras Tanura handles a large share of...
SWR Freight Surge Puts Focus on Mormugao Coal Handling
South Western Railway posted a 14.3% rise in gross revenue to ₹8,550 crore in FY 2025‑26, driven by an 18.3% jump in freight earnings. Freight tonnage climbed 17% to 47.5 million tonnes, with coal loading up 16.6% to 9.3 MT. The surge has spotlighted...
Uniterrupted Power for Farmers: Haryana to Set up Agri Discom
Haryana will launch a dedicated power utility, Haryana Agri Discom, to serve the state’s 7.12 lakh farm consumers across 5,084 agricultural feeders. Announced in the 2026‑27 budget by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the new entity aims to deliver uninterrupted electricity,...
Haryana Budget 2026-27 : ₹2.23 Lakh Crore, Agniveer Quota, Agri Power Discom.
Haryana unveiled a ₹2.23 lakh‑crore budget for 2026‑27, with debt servicing consuming 29.2 percent of outlays. The state will create a dedicated agricultural power distribution company to supply uninterrupted electricity to over 7 lakh farmers. A 20 percent reservation for Agniveer veterans in the...
Grew Energy, SEIL Boards Approve Merger Plan
Grew Energy and Shanti Educational Initiatives Ltd (SEIL) have received board approval for a merger, with SEIL shareholders exchanging 212 SEIL shares for 100 Grew Energy shares. Grew Energy, a Chiripal Group subsidiary, currently operates a 6.5 GW PV module plant...
Oil and Gas Projects Now Take 15 Years to Start, Tripling Since Industry Peak: Global Energy Monitor
Global Energy Monitor reports that oil and gas projects now require an average of 15.1 years from discovery to production, roughly three times the 4.9‑year pace of the 1960‑80 peak era. The longest lead times appeared between 2010 and 2020,...
Indian Govt Assures Fuel Availability, Affordability Amid Iran-Israel Tensions
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reviewed crude, LPG and petroleum product supplies as Iran‑Israel tensions heightened global energy volatility. Brent crude surged to roughly $82 a barrel, prompting concerns over the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint that carries about...
PM Modi Inaugurates POWERGRID Transmission Projects Worth ₹3,600 Crore in Rajasthan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated POWERGRID transmission projects in Rajasthan valued at over ₹3,600 crore. The rollout includes a 765 kV Bhadla‑III–Sikar‑II line and a new Bhadla‑III substation, expanding capacity for 20 GW of Renewable Energy Zones and 8.1 GW of solar zones. These...
MSEDCL Subsidised Rooftop Solar for BPL/EWS: ₹45,450/kW for Low-Consumption Homes
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) announced a subsidised rooftop solar offering of ₹45,450 per kilowatt for BPL and EWS households consuming under 100 units monthly. Under the SMART scheme, beneficiaries receive a ₹30,000 subsidy via the PM Suryaghar...
Power Consumption Grows Marginally by 1.86% to 132.99 Billion Units in February
India's power consumption rose 1.86% in February to 132.99 billion units, driven by milder temperatures that reduced heating appliance use. Peak demand increased slightly to 243.15 GW, still below the all‑time high of 250 GW recorded in May 2024. The Indian Meteorological Department...
Pune Power Infrastructure Boost: ₹1,100 Crore Investment for Improved Electricity Supply
The Maharashtra state government announced a ₹1,100 crore investment to upgrade Pune district’s power infrastructure, with ₹450 crore dedicated to the rapidly growing Pimpri Chinchwad area. The funding, part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, aims to address frequent outages, power theft, and...
Iran War's Oil Disruption May Have Begun; Oil Majors, Traders Suspend Shipments via Hormuz
Major oil majors and leading trading houses have suspended crude and fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran‑Israel‑US conflict escalates. Israel launched a pre‑emptive strike on Iran, followed by U.S. air and naval attacks, prompting heightened security...
AERB Approves First Pour of Concrete for Units 5 and 6 of Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) granted permission for the First Pour of Concrete (FPC) on February 24, marking the start of construction for Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant units 5 and 6. Both units are 700 MWe pressurised heavy‑water reactors (PHWR) using an indigenous...
Andaman Oil Exploration May Propel India Towards $20 Trillion Economy: Lt Governor Joshi
India’s Andaman Basin is seeing a major push in oil exploration after 63.5% of the 600,000‑sq‑km no‑go zone was cleared for drilling, a move Lieutenant Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi says could help lift the country from its current $4 trillion GDP...
Andhra Pradesh Okays Adani Solar Power Deal, with Rider
Andhra Pradesh’s government has approved the off‑take of 300 MW of solar power from Adani Green Energy under the 2021 power supply agreement, after a 15‑month pause caused by U.S. bribery allegations. The approval comes with a rider that the state...
Japanese Company Proterial Plans to Make Magnets & More in India
Proterial, a Japanese advanced‑materials maker, is evaluating India as a production base for its rare‑earth‑free electric‑vehicle magnets and other high‑end components such as superalloys and power‑electronics parts. CEO Sean M. Stack highlighted strong economic momentum, government incentives, and the need...
Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Declared No Power Cuts in State Till Public Exams Are Over
Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) has ordered a halt to all planned maintenance that requires power cuts until the state’s public examinations conclude in April. The directive applies to Chennai and every district across Tamil Nadu, suspending routine work on...
Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund Pulls Out of Adani Green Energy
Norway's $1.2 trillion sovereign wealth fund has removed Adani Green Energy Ltd from its portfolio, citing concerns over alleged gross corruption or serious financial crime. The fund sold a holding worth roughly ₹400 crore, while Indian mutual funds have accumulated about $500 million...
SCCL Likely to Bid for Coal Bed Methane in Singareni
Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) is preparing to bid in upcoming coal‑bed methane (CBM) auctions for three blocks in the Singareni region. The blocks, covering six districts in Telangana, hold an estimated 1.9 billion cubic metres of gas resources. Government officials have...
NSE Eyes Electricity Futures and Coal Spot Exchange as Next Growth Drivers
India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced plans to launch electricity futures, a coal spot exchange and broaden its commodity offerings, leveraging its high‑speed trading infrastructure. CEO Ashish Chauhan said the exchange’s existing systems for order processing, clearing and risk management...
SCI, Oil Firms Shipping JV Delayed over Lack of Clarity on ONGC’s Role
India’s Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)‑led joint venture to own a fleet for state‑run oil firms has stalled because ONGC’s equity participation remains undefined. The JV structure allocates 50% to SCI, with IOCL, BPCL and Sagarmala Finance each holding 10‑15%,...
Peak-Hour Power to Cost More in Chandigarh Soon
Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL) will introduce time‑of‑day (TOD) electricity tariffs for all consumer categories, beginning with industrial users. The new structure applies a multiplier of 0.8 during solar‑aligned daytime hours (9 am‑5 pm) and 1.2 during morning and evening peaks, while...
Tripura Milestone: State Crosses 8 MW of Solar Power Generation
Tripura has crossed the 8 MW threshold for rooftop solar generation under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. More than 2,350 households and small businesses have installed panels, collectively feeding over 8 MW into the state grid. The scheme has disbursed...
NITI Aayog Panel Calls for Public-Private Push to Boost India's Critical Minerals Self-Reliance
The NITI Aayog‑led National Critical and Strategic Minerals Committee called for a joint public‑private drive to accelerate exploration, research and partnerships for India’s critical minerals. Despite sizable reserves, limited exploration has left the country heavily import‑dependent on lithium, rare‑earth elements,...
Russia Boosts Budget Reserve Fund Amid Falling Oil Revenues
Russia's finance ministry announced plans to lower the cut‑off price that triggers the transfer of oil revenues into the budget reserve fund. The move aims to channel more of the declining oil proceeds into the $56 billion reserve to protect it...
Renewable Energy Company EDPR's 2025 Recurring Profit Jumps 50% on US Growth
EDP Renovaveis reported a 50% jump in recurring net profit for 2025, reaching €330 million, driven by rapid U.S. capacity expansion. EBITDA rose 17% to €1.95 billion, with a target of €2.1 billion for 2026. The company added 2 GW of new capacity, over...
European Power Prices Plummet as Wind Surges and Demand Falls
European day‑ahead power contracts plunged on Wednesday as wind generation surged and demand fell across the region. Germany's baseload price dropped 20.6% to €75/MWh, while France’s fell 30% to €21/MWh. Wind output is set to reach 23.8 GW in Germany and...
Industry Leaders Present India–UK/Europe Green Corridor Vision to President Murmu
Senior industry leaders from India, the UK and Europe briefed President Droupadi Murmu on a proposed India‑UK/Europe green corridor aimed at accelerating industrial decarbonisation and sustainable trade. The roadmap, led by Rajashree Birla, outlines technology transfer, catalytic capital flows and...
Nordex CEO Says Europe Must Speed up Permitting for Renewables
Nordex chief executive Jose Luis Blanco told Reuters that Europe must emulate Germany’s rapid wind‑project permitting to meet its renewable targets. He highlighted recent German reforms that now allow approvals within months, a stark contrast to earlier delays. Blanco warned...
CAFE-III: Power Ministry Has Sent Proposal to PMO After Meeting Stakeholders, Says Kumaraswamy
The Power Ministry has submitted its draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE‑III) proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office after a stakeholder roundtable. The upcoming CAFE‑III standards, expected to roll out in April 2027, aim to tighten fleet‑wide fuel consumption and CO₂...
Solar Firm Told to Refund ₹8.1 Lakh for Failed Panel Installation
The Karnataka District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered a solar‑panel distributor to refund ₹8.1 lakh and pay ₹35,000 for mental anguish after a rooftop system, promised to generate 40 units daily, failed shortly after installation. The ruling highlights inadequate after‑sales support...
Battery Technology Startup Coulomb Litech Secures ₹20 Crore Seed Funding
Coulomb Litech, an Indian battery‑technology startup, closed a ₹20 crore seed round to expand its manufacturing footprint and accelerate market penetration. The company, founded by IIT‑Kanpur alumni, develops fast‑charging, long‑life battery systems for medium‑ and heavy‑duty electric vehicles, covering voltages from...
CCEA Enhances Equity Investment Limit for Powergrid Subsidiaries to ₹7,500 Crore
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved raising Powergrid's equity investment ceiling from ₹5,000 crore to ₹7,500 crore per subsidiary, while keeping the 15 percent net‑worth cap. The change enables the Maharatna CPSE to fund larger transmission projects, including UHVAC and HVDC corridors,...
Slovakia Halts Emergency Electricity Supplies to Ukraine over Russian Oil Dispute
Slovakia announced it will halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine until Kyiv restores Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. The move follows a dispute over the pipeline’s shutdown after a Russian drone strike and accusations that Ukraine is delaying...
EVs Likely to Lose Zero-Emission Tag Under CAFE III
India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency is set to revise CAFE‑III rules, removing the zero‑emission label for electric cars and requiring manufacturers to account for electricity consumption in fuel‑efficiency calculations. The proposal converts kWh per 100 km into a petrol‑equivalent metric, aiming...