Chhattisgarh nets Rs 21,800 crore investment in power sector

Raipur, Jan 11: Chhattisgarh has set in motion a process to set up a series of power plants in the private sector to generate 4990 MW of electricity with an estimated investment of Rs 21,800 crore.

The state government and state electricity board (CSEB) have signed tripartite agreements with seven industrial houses for setting up thermal power plants at a function here last night in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh.

According to the agreements, Ispat Industries will set up a 600 MW pit-head thermal plant with an investment of Rs 2500 crore and Bhushan Power and Steel Limited a 1000 MW power plant at an estimated cost of Rs 4000 crore.

Lenko Amarkantak Power Limited , a Hyderabad based company which is setting up a 300 MW power plant in the state, signed an MOU for setting up another 600 MW plant at a cost of Rs 3550 crore. Similarly, Bhopal based DB Power Limited will set up a 600 MW plant with an investment of Rs 2500 crore.

Essar Power Limited has signed an agreement for setting up a 1050 MW power plant with an investment of Rs 4600 crore while Raipur Alloys and Steel Limited signed agreement to set up 600 MW plant at an estimated cost of Rs 2520 crore. Similarly, Patni Projects Private Limited will invest Rs 2150 crore for setting up a 540 MW thermal power plant.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Raman Singh said the state, in its power policy, has made a provision to ensure that power plants supplied five to 7.5 per cent of power to the state government at variable cost price. Besides, the state will have first right to purchase 30 per cent of power produced by these private investors.

UNI