Centre approves ultra mega power project

Hyderabad, Mar 28 (UNI) Central Electricity Authority Committee member R K Jain today said the Centre has cleared the 4000 MW 'Ultra Mega power' project at Krishna Patnam port in Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference Mr Jain, who came here along with a three member central team to hold discussion about the project with the state government said the it would be set up with 100 per cent private ownership. The project would have four separate units, each producing 1000 MW.

Stating that the government would invite international bidding for the proposed project and work would start from April 2007, he said the cost of the project was about Rs 40,000 crore.

The state government has selected the port area because of its capacity to unload 1.25 lakh tonne coal at a time.

Mr Jain said technology utilised in the project would will be environment friendly and release less corbon Dioxide. The cost of the power produced will be about Rs 1.80 per unit.

He said Andhra Pradesh could utilise 2000 MW of power from the project.

The ultra mega power projects would also be set up in Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Karnataka and Maharastra in future, Mr Jain added.

UNI AP VV SS RK1655