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Thursday, March 28, 2024

APDCL, NLCIL ink MoU to set up 1000MW renewable power plant in Assam

NLCIL will supply power produced from these projects to APDCL and other consumers within or outside the state.

GUWAHATI:

Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL) in presence of Union minister for coal, mines and parliamentary affairs Pralhad Joshi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at a function in Janata Bhawan on August 9.

Speaking at the event, Joshi said the project is being developed with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore and it is expected to generate around 1000 to 2000 jobs in the state during the construction stage and more during the operation and maintenance stage. He also said at present the power demand in the country and also in the states is increasing due to rapid electrification, and this initiative will boost the power sector in the state.

Asserting that India is the fastest growing and the best-performing economy in the world, Joshi said that India needs to produce more power to fulfil its growth aspirations so that it can progress faster unhindered.

Talking about coal production, Joshi said that equal importance needs to be given to thermal power, and informed that the country is presently producing 817 MT of coal.

He also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India electrification programme, saying it has been one of the greatest success stories, adding that rural electrification gained momentum under the Modi government with almost all villages of India now getting connected to the electricity grid.

The Union minister assured that his ministry will provide all necessary support to the Assam government in boosting the power sector. He also assured that the centre will invest more and will work towards fulfilling the power requirement of Assam.

K Mohan Reddy, director (planning and projects) NLCIL, and Rakesh Kumar, managing director, APDCL, signed the MoU and exchanged documents. Under the MoU, the 1000 MW solar power plant to be set up in Assam will be a joint venture project on 49:51 ratio between APDCL and NLCIL to support the increasing power requirement of the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarma termed it a historic day for the state in the field of power generation and said that since the power requirement in Assam is increasing by leaps and bounds, the state should be in a position to produce more power to fulfil its requirement while at the same time staying in tune with climate change.

Sarma said that besides the 1000 MW solar power plant, the state government is ready to have another joint venture with NLCIL for yet another 1000 MW green power project. He said that the state government has a definite plan to reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels and step up a generation of green energy shortly.

Meanwhile, NLCIL contributed Rs 5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, which was handed over by Joshi to Sarma, who said that the contribution would help in empowering the state government in its efforts of rehabilitation and reconstruction of flood victims in the state.

The JV Company will generate electricity from all renewable energy sources, including hydropower projects. The company will supply power produced from these projects to APDCL and other consumers within or outside the state.

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