TN to set up sez for energy sector

Chennai, May 3 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy today announced in the State Assembly that a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for the non-conventional energy sector will be set up in Kancheepuram district in a 700-acre area.

Works would commence after obtaining the approval from Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, he said, during question hour.

Replying to Mr R Gnanadoss (MDMK) and Mr Chinnasami (AIADMK), he said the lands had been acquired for the project and a US-based firm has evinced interest to set up a plant for manufacturing equipment for the wind energy sector with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore.

Mr Veerasamy said research was on to ascertain the feasibility of setting up wind mills in coastal areas where the wind speed was more than 15 kmph.

Private parties were interested in setting up wind mills but in some areas the wind speed was only around 10 kmph. ''If private parties come forward to set up windmills in places where the speed was 15 kmph and above, the government will accord permission'', he added.

The minister said at present the government was spending Rs five crore to generate one mega-watt (mw) of hydro-electric power and Rs four crore for one mega-watt of thermal power.

But in respect of generating one mw of power through solar energy, the government had to incur Rs 18 crore. This was not feasible at present and any project in this regard could be taken up by once the cost comes down.

UNI