Haryana ropes in private investors for power projects

Chandigarh, Nov 28 (UNI) The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) has inked Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four private investors for setting up one Biomass based Power Project of 2 MW capacity and three small Hydro Power Projects of 4.7 MW capacity.

HAREDA Director Sumita Misra said for setting up 2 MW Biomass Power Project at Barwala Block of Hisar district, the MoU was signed with M/s Chemical International Limited of New Delhi.

For Small Hydro Power Projects, the MoUs were signed with M/s Puri Oil Mill Limited, Bahadurgarh for Augmentation Canal Musapur Project of 1.3 MW and Augmentation Canal Khukni Project, also of 1.3 MW capacity.

Another MoU for Small Hydro Power Project of 2 MW capacity at WJC Main Branch, Gogripur was signed with M/s P&R Engineering Services, Chandigarh.

These projects would be implemented by private investors with total investment of about Rs 38 crore.

Ms Misra said the state government had formulated its policy in November 2005 for promoting generation of electricity through Renewable Energy Sources and for encouraging private investment in setting up renewable energy power projects in the state.

Under the policy, various incentives such as exemption of electricity duty, wheeling and banking facilities, waiving of conversion charges for setting up of power projects in agriculture zone had been provided.

She said HAREDA was the Nodal Agency for implementing various Renewable Energy Programmes.

She said Letters of Intent had already been issued for setting up 23 Biomass Power Projects of 256 MW capacity and four Wind Power Projects of 440 MW capacity. MoUs for these projects, involving total investment of Rs 3,500 crore, would be signed next month.

She said renewable energy based power projects were not only environment friendly but also helped in reducing transmission losses as these plants were located near the load centres. These projects of 702 MW capacity would start generating power by the mid of 2008, she added.

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