Power plants near Pipapav port likely to go on stream by 2012

The plants, with a total capacity of 3,300 Mw, are at various stages of development.

The four power plants coming up around the Pipavav port in Gujarat are likely to become operational by 2012, said state energy and petrochemicals Saurabh Patel. The plants, with a total capacity of 3,300 Mw, are at various stages of development.

Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL) and Torrent Power Ltd are jointly developing a 1,000 Mw coal-based power plant near Pipavav. GPCL and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd have joined hands to set up a 700 Mw gas-based power project, while Visa Power and Videocon are developing 1,000 Mw and 600 Mw coal-based power projects respectively in the same region.

“Project developers require land, water as well as environmental clearances for setting up the project. Once these requirements are met, project implementations would start. The first phase of these four projects is expected to be operational by 2012,” Patel said in a written reply to the Assembly on Monday.

According to experts, the power plants would give a major boost to industrial activities near Pipavav. The state government intends to develop Pipavav as an alternative port. Gujarat plans to build a 10-lane road linking Ahmedabad and Pipavav to provide the much-needed hinterland connectivity to the port.