RPG grp planning to add 5,000 MW in few yrs

RPG group today said it is planning to add 5,000 MW of thermal power generating capacity in the next few years and is also eyeing opportunities for inorganic growth.

RPG Group Vice-Chairman Sanjiv Goenka said: "Our group plans to add 5,000 MW of thermal generating capacity in the next few years. We are looking at opportunities for inorganic growth as well."

The company has acquired a thermal power firm Dhariwal Infrastructure in Maharashtra this fiscal.

Goenka added that the company was examining the hydel power sector too.

CESC today commissioned the 250-MW third unit of Budge Budge that cost Rs 1,200 crore, taking its total installed capacity to 1,225 MW.

With the commissioning, the total capacity of the company's Budge Budge power generating station went up to 750 MW, a company official said.

The cost of the 250 MW third unit was Rs 1,200 crore.

The company also incurred a cost of around Rs 300 crore to build a 82-km transmission line on 350 towers from Budge Budge to the EM Bypass sub-station for city distribution.

The new unit was to go onstream in October 2009, but could not do so because of transmission-line related issues.

The 250 MW third unit will help CESC, which does not have sufficient power generating capacity on its own, to meet the demand that reaches close to 1,550 MW in summer peak hours.