NHPC to invest Rs 8,000 cr in Bhutan; eyes African countries

Faridabad, Nov 22 (UNI) With a view to expand globally, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (NHPC) plans to invest about Rs 8,000 crore in the upcoming two projects in Bhutan which are currently underway.

The firm is eyeing two projects -- 500 MW 'Mangnetchu' and 1,000-1,200 'Punasasachu' -- in Bhutan, the detailed project report (DPR) for the Mangnetchu project has already been prepared and will soon be submitted to the Bhutanese authority, company's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) said here.

''Producing one MW energy costs about Rs five crore and we are planning to generate about 1600-1700 MW in Bhutan through the two projects,'' he told reporters here.

The CMD said the government-to-government dialogue is going on for the second project, and it might be through the joint venture.

Speaking at the launch of Enterprise Resource Planning (EPR) project titled 'Project Kiran' in association with IFS Solutions, he said the company is also eyeing the under developed African market.

''Recently, we had a talk with Congo and Euthopia government's officials. If any such opportunity comes, we would go for that at an appropriate time,'' Mr Garg said.

Earlier, the country's premier hydel firm was interested in the Myanmar market, but the political uncertainty had forced it to go back, he added.

UNI