Tata Power to commission 2 South African wind projects in 2017

Country's leading power utility Tata Power expects commissioning of its two South African wind projects, having total capacity of nearly 229 MW, by fiscal year 2017.

Tata Power, which has an installed generation capacity of 8,560 MW, is developing the two projects through an equal joint venture with Exxaro Resources.

They are 134.4 MW Amakhala Emoyeni and 94.8 MW Tsitsikamma plants.

"The Amakhala Emoyeni is a 134.4 MW wind powered generation project, located approximately 14 kilometre south west of the town of Bedford in the Eastern Cape, expected to be commissioned in fiscal year 2017," Tata Power Managing Director Anil Sardana told PTI.

Similarly, the Tsitsikamma project is also expected to be operational in fiscal 2017.

For both projects, being developed by the joint venture entity Cennergi (Pty) Ltd, power purchase agreements have been inked with Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd for a period of 20 years from the date of starting their commercial operations.

Besides, Tata Power along with the Bhutan government is developing the 126 MW Dagachhu hydel project.

"The civil works are progressing as planned and 99% concreting has been completed. Tunnel excavation and tunnel lining is in progress. Slope stabilisation and the concreting works for the head race channel are in progress.

"Fish ladder is being constructed. 75% erection of turbines has been completed and overall 65 per cent electro-mechanical erection has been completed," Sardana said.

Further, the company has started work on the first phase of 185 MW Shuakhevi hydro power project in Georgia. This is being implemented through a joint venture with Clean Energy Invest AS (Clean Energy) and IFC InfraVentures.

Electricity generated from this plant would be sold mainly to Turkey.

The power producer has ambitious plans for growth and is looking for opportunities in South East Asia, SAARC as well as African and Middle East regions.