Resolution of stressed thermal assets remains quiet; only 10% capacity resolved: ICRA

31 Oct 2019 Evaluate

The rating agency ICRA in its latest report has said the resolution of stressed thermal assets remained quiet despite various measures undertaken by the government and lenders. It said only about 10 percent of the 40 GW stressed coal-based capacity achieving resolution, mainly through acquisition by a new sponsor. It noted that the balance capacity is under various stages of resolution, including through Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

According to the report, the resolution of 12 GW gas-based capacity continues to remain uncertain, given the inadequate availability of domestic gas and absence of any policy measures for use of imported R-LNG with subsidy support as well as the measures to incentivise such projects to meet the peaking/ancillary power demand. It also said the improvement in the discoms' financial position on all India level remained lower than expected, which can hamper the sustainability of demand growth and signing of new long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).

About the power sector, ICRA said that the all India electricity demand growth slowed down to 4.4 percent in the first six month of FY20, from 6 percent growth witnessed in the corresponding period of previous year. It noted that the slowdown in electricity demand was primarily witnessed in the months of August 2019 and September 2019, despite a healthy growth of 7.4 per cent in Q1 FY20. It added that the slowdown can be attributed to lower demand from household and agriculture segments following heavy rains in August 2019 and September 2019 and moderation in demand from industrial segment.

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