The Centre on Thursday said the average growth of energy requirement in the country for the year 2023-24 is 4.9 per cent compared to previous year. <br />''<br />''In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister R.K. Singh said the peak demand is expected to be around 229 Gigawatt during 2023-24. The months of April and May 2023 have been projected as a high demand period.<br />''<br />''He said measures have been taken to ensure the availability of the generation capacity. The generators have been directed to complete the maintenance work of their plants well before the period of high demand.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The Minister said imported coal based plants have been issued statutory directions to stock coal and generate power during high demand periods. Additional arrangement for gas for running gas based stations has been planned from GAIL, during high power demand months.</span><br />