Y Kikheto Sema (centre) addresses the high-level meeting with officials from NETC in Kohima on August 13. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, August 13 (MExN): Facing a severe internal generation deficit, the Nagaland government on Thursday held a high-level meeting with officials from the North East Transmission Company Limited (NETC) to discuss potential investments, infrastructure development, and joint venture models in the state's power sector.
The meeting, chaired by Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, focused on strengthening transmission networks, expanding renewable energy generation, and establishing battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Sema revealed that against a peak power demand of approximately 193 MW, Nagaland generates only about 20 MW within the state—meeting a mere 10 per cent of its requirement. Although Nagaland has an installed generation capacity of 29.4 MW, actual operational output hovers around 20 MW. The remaining requirement is supplemented by a 202 MW allocated share from Central Sector projects including NEEPCO, NHPC, NTPC, and OTPC.
Calling for greater private and institutional investment, Sema stressed that reliable power is essential for industrial growth, healthcare services, job creation, and overall economic development.
He highlighted the state’s untapped renewable energy potential, particularly in solar and hydro, and urged the NETC team—led by Managing Director Jai Shankar—to submit concrete project proposals and partnership models to reduce Nagaland's heavy reliance on external power purchases.
NETC Managing Director Jai Shankar expressed the company's keenness to build strategic partnerships with the state government. He proposed the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with equitable equity participation between NETC and Nagaland to jointly build transmission lines, substations, and integrated solar-hybrid storage systems.
Shankar emphasized that Nagaland needs to adopt a balanced energy mix—comprising hydro, solar, wind, gas, and energy storage—to prepare for evolving grid demands.
He noted that by upgrading its transmission and evacuation infrastructure, Nagaland could not only fulfill its domestic consumption needs but also trade surplus renewable energy to other states, generating revenue and lowering overall power procurement costs.
Supporting the proposal, Principal Secretary (Power) K.D. Vizo emphasized the urgent need to scale up local generation through solar energy alongside matching substation capabilities.
Officer on Special Duty (Finance) Ketoulhou Metha assured that power remains a priority sector for the state despite fiscal constraints, stating that the government will evaluate NETC’s proposals for viable resource mobilization.
During the meeting, NETC Head of HR & Business Development (Corporate) Riteish Kumar delivered a detailed presentation outlining the framework for strengthening Nagaland’s power grid through strategic public-private collaboration.
