Gandhinagar: Participating in the discussion on the Budget Demand for the Energy and Petrochemicals Department for 2025-26 in the Legislative Assembly, Energy Minister Kanubhai Desai stated that Gujarat continues to progress on the development path envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the decisive leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, the government remains committed to this unstoppable journey of development.

Minister Desai announced that the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has assessed the service quality of 42 government power distribution companies nationwide. In this evaluation, all four of Gujarat’s power distribution companies received an A+ rating. South Gujarat Power Company, Central Gujarat Power Company, and North Gujarat Power Company secured the top three positions, while West Gujarat Power Company ranked fifth. Additionally, JETCO received the CBIP Award 2024 for Best Transmission Utility from the Central Board of Irrigation and Power.

Highlighting Gujarat’s commitment to green energy, the Minister emphasized that Prime Minister Modi has prioritized ‘Green Growth’ to reduce dependence on polluting fuels like coal and gas. The Government of India has set a target of 500 GW of green energy by 2030, and Gujarat aims to contribute over 100 GW toward this goal. The state has also made significant strides in renewable energy, with 12,584 MW of installed wind power capacity—26% of India’s total—and 18,125 MW of solar power capacity, accounting for 18% of the national total.

Gujarat was recognized as the “Highest Achiever State” at the Global RE-Invest Summit 2024 for its exceptional contributions to wind and solar energy. To further promote renewable energy, the state has launched a single-window clearance system via the Akshay Urja Setu portal, ensuring transparency and efficiency in project approvals.

Minister Desai also underscored Gujarat’s leadership in rooftop solar installations. Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, over 3 lakh houses in Gujarat have adopted solar rooftop systems—40% of the national total—placing the state first in the country. Additionally, the Surya Gujarat Yojana has enabled 21 lakh homes to generate 2,073 MW of solar power, covering 82% of rooftop installations nationwide.

The government has allocated ₹100 crore to provide ₹2,950 per connection in metering and connectivity subsidies for rooftop solar systems up to 6 kW. Furthermore, to provide relief to electricity consumers, the state has reduced fuel charges twice in 2024, resulting in cumulative electricity bill savings exceeding ₹2,000 crore.

Gujarat’s electricity consumption per capita has surged from 953 units in 2002 to 2,479 units in 2024, surpassing the national average of 1,331 units. Despite rising demand, the government has ensured uninterrupted and quality power supply. To support future growth, Gujarat plans to expand its power generation capacity by 37,609 MW by 2030, with contributions from thermal, hydro, wind, and solar projects.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to farmers, providing electricity at subsidized rates, waiving electricity duties, and implementing the Kisan Suryodaya Yojana. A budgetary provision of ₹2,175 crore has been made for this scheme, ensuring daytime electricity supply for 97% of Gujarat’s villages.

Under the PM Kusum Scheme, the government is subsidizing stand-alone solar pumps for farmers in off-grid areas, with tribal beneficiaries receiving full financial support. The Kutir Jyoti Scheme has been expanded to facilitate electricity access for Scheduled Tribe households, while ₹51 crore has been allocated under the Sagarkhedu Vikas Yojana to strengthen the transmission network in coastal regions.

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission has amended the Electricity Supply Code 2015, increasing the power load limit for LT connections from 100 KW to 150 KW to boost industrial growth and employment. The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has been allocated ₹935.62 crore to enhance distribution efficiency, targeting a reduction in power losses to 10.5% in Gujarat by 2025-26.

To improve disaster resilience, the government has set aside ₹100 crore for underground power distribution in coastal areas prone to cyclones and heavy rainfall. Additionally, ₹95 crore has been earmarked for shifting power infrastructure in urban expansion projects, and ₹100 crore for converting overhead power lines to underground cables.

Gujarat is also investing in green mobility, allocating ₹50 crore for expanding EV charging infrastructure under the Developed Gujarat 2047 initiative. The Green Energy Transition Research Institute (GETRI) has been granted ₹25 crore for clean energy research, capacity building, and pilot projects in energy storage and microgrid applications.

Gujarat leads in LNG infrastructure, accounting for 62% of India’s total re-gasification capacity. The state is home to Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL), India’s largest gas distribution company, which operates an extensive city gas distribution network and serves over 21 lakh domestic customers.

The Budget Demands for the Energy and Petrochemicals Department for 2025-26 were passed in the Legislative Assembly today. DeshGujarat