Organized by Kolkata Power Engineering Chapter
jointly organized with the Electrical Engineering Department of Haldia Institute of Technology, IEEE Kharagpur Section and University College of Technology of University of Calcutta
Date:
December 04, 2005
Venue: Indian Oil Management Academy, Haldia
Power sector across the world is undergoing a lot of restructuring; India is no exception to this. Restructuring of the power sector has now been well accepted and recognized as an important requirement for reduction of electricity prices and improving both technical and economic efficiency of the system. Electricity Act 2003 introduces the concept of trading bulk electricity. The act also provides open access to generation, transmission as well as distribution of electricity.
In order to provide a critical support base to the power sector restructuring process and to the concerned players, i.e., the regulators, private generators and customers, it is important that the academic sector (the Universities and their Power Engineering Departments, etc.) play an active role. It is important that Electrical Power Engineering Departments in Universities coordinate to work closely, in association with utilities, electricity markets, and system operators, to develop proper frameworks and curriculum structures to address various issues emerging from this restructuring.
To discuss the challenges faced by the community for adopting this radical change in the Indian power sector, IEEE Power Engineering Chapter, Kolkata, in collaboration with the Electrical Engineering Department of Haldia Institute of Technology, IEEE Kharagpur Section and Calcutta University organized the National Seminar on "Power Sector Restructuring and Deregulation - PSRD2005" at the Indian Oil Management Academy, Haldia, on 4th December 2005. The objective of the seminar was to share with academicians and industry personnel, the challenges faced by the community for adopting this radical change in the Indian power sector.
The seminar featured eminent keynote speakers from industry and academia covering a wide range of information and thoughts from round the globe. Mr. S.Mitra, Principal Secretary, Department of Power and Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Government of West Bengal, had the audience spell bound with his speech on “Restructuring PSUs in West Bengal – Changing Mindsets”. Prof. Tapan Saha, University of Queensland, Australia encompassed the whole global scenario in power sector restructuring throughout his speech on “Deregulation – The Global Scenario in Power Sectors”. Mr. S. R. Sikder, Ex-Chairman, WBSEB, presented a lucid talk on the state of deregulation, its initiation and current status in our country. Prof. A. K. Sinha, IIT – Kharagpur discussed about the scopes and Challenges that we are going to face during the restructuring process being adopted in our country.
The participation in this seminar was overwhelming. More than 150 delegates from engineering institutes such as JU – Kolkata, BESU - Howrah, , HIT - Haldia Institute of Technology, JIS College of Engineering – Kalyani, FIEM – Sonarpur, CIEM – Kolkata, Narula Institute of Technology - Agarpara, CEMK – Kolaghat, provided a valuable colloquium of researchers. Delegates and participants from industries/utilities including PGCIL – Durgapur, WBSEB, CESC, DVC, IOC, Exide, HPL, L&T etc formed a forum of practicing engineers who will be sharing their practical knowledge and experience.
In this occasion, the Outstanding Chapter Engineer Award of IEEE PES Kolkata Chapter for the year 2005 was presented to Mr. Sanjay Kar Chowdhury for his continued efforts and involvements in bringing up the activities of PES Chapter of Kolkata.