BHEL, Electricity, KBUNL - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: 1.1 bn

Explanation:
Half a billion people have gained access to electricity in India since 2000, almost doubling the country's electrification rate, according to the World Energy Access report released on Dec 6, 2017 by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

This "remarkable" growth puts India on course to achieving access to electricity for all in the early 2020s, the report added.

The number of people without access to electricity fell to 1.1 billion in 2016 from 1.7 billion in 2000.

It is on track to decline to 674 million by 2030, with India reaching universal access well before then. Since 2012, more than 100 million people per year have gained electricity access, an acceleration from the rate of 62 million people per year seen between 2000 and 2012.

Our analysis in the World Energy Outlook confirms that India is emerging as a major driving force in global energy trends, with all modern fuels and technologies playing a part.

Half a billion people have gained access to electricity in India since 2000, almost doubling the country's electrification rate.
This remarkable growth puts India on course to achieving access to electricity for all in the early 2020s - a colossal achievement.

Rate of Electrification: Know More

• Coal has fuelled about 75% of the new electricity access since 2000, with renewable sources accounting for around 20%, according to the report.
• However, 239 million people remained without electricity access in 2016, about a quarter of the worldwide total.
• The report added that India is expected to reach universal electricity access in the early-2020s. Progress has also been made on clean cooking, although 830 million people in India still lack access.
• There are clear indications however that government policy efforts targeting LPG have begun to take hold.
• The share of the population relying primarily on biomass for cooking fell to 59% in 2015 from 66% in 2011.
• By 2030, the promotion of LPG and improved biomass cookstoves by the government means that more than 300 million people gain access to clean cooking facilities, but still more than one-in-three people remain without

ANSWER: Raichur, Karnataka

Explanation:
The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) on 30 March 2017 commissioned an 800 MW supercritical thermal power plant in Raichur District of Karnataka.

This is the second unit of the 2×800 MW Yeramarus Thermal Power Station, the first unit of which was successfully commissioned in early March 2017.

The plant which was commissioned on 15 March 2017 is also the BHEL’s first 800 MW Supercritical Thermal Power Plant.

The power station is owned and operated by the Raichur Power Corporation Limited (RPCL), which is jointly owned by the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) and the BHEL.

BHEL carried out complete design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of this state-of-the-art supercritical project on turnkey basis.

It has supplied all the critical equipment like boiler, turbine and generators, electrical, key packages of balance of plant, and also carried out the associated civil works.

The major equipment for the project has been manufactured by BHEL at its Haridwar, Trichy, Bhopal, Ranipet, Hyderabad, Jhansi, Thirumayam and Bengaluru plants.

The construction of the plant was undertaken by the company’s Power Sector - Southern Region.

BHEL has supplied and executed 4,010 MW of coal based sets for KPCL and its joint ventures, which accounts for 95 per cent of the utility’s coal-based installed capacity.

It is also presently executing KPCL’s first gas-based combined cycle power project of 370 MW capacity involving a fuel-efficient advanced-class gas turbine at Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

About BHEL

• The company is the market leader in both the subcritical as well as the supercritical segments in the country.
  
• The company has secured orders for 48 supercritical Steam Generators (SG) and 41 supercritical Steam Turbine Generators (STG) – the highest in the country by any power equipment manufacturer. Of these, 12 SG and STG have already achieved capacity addition.
• BHEL’s contribution of nearly 60% of the total power generated in the country bears testimony to the superlative performance of its equipment.

ANSWER: Akhil Joshi

Explanation:
Akhil Joshi presently working as ED, BHEL has been appointed as Director (Power) BHEL for 5 years from the date of assumption of charge of post or till the date of superannuation or until further orders.

• As Director (Power). Josh will be responsible for marketing, construction, commissioning and overall management of power projects and an after market business for the company.
• He has diverse experience of over 3 decades working in major units of BHEL.
• He has also held global leadership positions in international operations and information technology divisions of BHEL.
• He has a degree in engineering.

ANSWER: Vidyut Pravah

Explanation:
Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy launched mobile app Vidyut Pravah- Electricity, Price Availability and Highlights

• Mobile application provides highlights of power availability in the country on real time basis
• Web/Mobile application provides a wealth of information relating to current demand met, surplus power available and prices in the Power Exchange
• UI ensures that visualisation of power availability and prices at overall country level and at State/UT level is facilitated.
• The Web application can be accessed through vidyutpravah.in.

ANSWER: 3.6%

Explanation:
India achieved lowest ever power deficit of 3.6 per cent and highest ever increase in power capacity addition of 22,566 Mega Watts.

ANSWER: West Bengal

Explanation:
IISCO plant is situated in Burnpur, West Bengal.