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| Torrent to foray into wind, solar power generation |
| BS Reporter / Mumbai/ Surat Oct 01, 2009, 20:29 IST |
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After having chalked out ambitious plans to set up large coal and gas-based power project, Ahmedabad-based Torrent Power is now all set to enter into solar and wind power generation. The company has already announced capacity addition of 9,500 Mw in next five to seven years.
"Torrent Power is now getting into wind and solar power generation space," Sudhir Mehta, chairman, Torrent Group today said while dedicating its 1,147.5 Mw Sugen mega power plant to the nation in the presence of Sushil Kumar Shinde, union minister of power, Murli Deora , union minister for petroleum and natural gas and Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat.
It may be mentioned here Torrent Power has been allotted 25 Mw of solar power capacity by Gujarat government. In addition to this, the private sector power generation and distribution utility has also entered into an agreement with the state government to set up wind farm involving an investment of Rs 600 crore.
Torrent power is aiming to further to increase its generation capacity in the coming years. "We are looking at addition 6000 Mw gas-based and 3,500 Mw coal-based power generation capacity in next 5 to 7 years. As far as Sugen power project in Surat district is concerned, fourth unit of the plant will shortly be added to the to the existing 3 units taking the total capacity to 1500 Mw this year itself," added Mehta. The company also intends to raise the capacity of Sugen power project to 3,000 Mw.
The company has already floated global tenders for setting up a gas-based power plant in the Dahej SEZ. This project, to be executed in a phased manner, will have a total capacity of 1,500 Mw. Plans are also afoot to set up another 2,000 Mw and 1,000 Mw coal-based power plants at Pipava in Saurashtra and Chattisgarh respectively.
Talking about the Sugen power project, Mehta said that Sugen project is a perfect confluence of engineering magnificence and ecology consciousness. Total care has been taken at every stage of the project execution and commissioning to conserve and protect the environment and the ecology of the area.
"The company has been able to generate power at Rs. 2.70 per Mw," Torrent Power chairman said. However, considering rising prices of fuel, now company's may have to shell Rs 6 crore for generating 1 Mw of power.
Talking about Gujarat government's efforts to strengthen transmission network in the state, Saurabh Patel, minister of state for energy and petrochemicals, revealed that the state government will pump in Rs 5,000 crore for power transmission infrastructure in the state.
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