Guwahati: Assam's electricity requirement is likely to shoot up to 2,534MW by 2021-22, which is double that of 2011-12, says a long-term forecast of power requirements in the state.

The forecast says the state reported power requirement of 1,817MW in 2016-17 which went up from 1,257MW in 2011-12.

Electricity requirement in the entire country would also go up from 1,24,995MW in 2011-12 to 2,83,470MW in 2021-22, the forecast said.

Official sources said the forecast was carried out recently to compare the electricity requirement, power availability as well as the power department's capacity to cater to the demand in view of the government's schemes to make electricity available 24 hours as well as meet the demand for industries.

"Since the Centre and the state government is now focusing on making electricity available to all villages and to development of industries, power is a major requirement. So, the state government is taking steps keeping in mind the forecast of the power requirement to ensure that electricity supply does not become a hindrance," the source said.

It also said the number of power consumers also increased from 28,229,739 in 2013-14 to 29,32,745 in 2016-17.

The installed capacity of power generating plants in the state at present is 379.7MW which includes coal, hydel and gas-based plants.

Since the state runs short of local supply of power, the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited buys power from the central exchange as well as private power suppliers.

Sources said power demand in the state went up significantly following the government's two major power supply schemes - Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vaidyutikaran Yojana and Deendayal Upadhayaya Gram Jyoti Yojana.

"Since the hydel power potential of the state has remained untapped because of environmental impact concerns and protests against construction of dams, the state government is now focusing on renewable energy like solar power projects. Efforts are on to set up two solar power plants having capacity of 69MW at Amguri in Sivasagar and a 20MW project at Chandrapur near Guwahati for 24-hours power supply to five towns - Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Sualkuchi, Rangapara and Jorhat," the source said.