Lanco Infratech to have solar cell-making plant in Chhattisgarh

Lanco Infratech on Monday announced that its solar energy arm has signed an agreement with the Chhattisgarh government to set up a 100 MW solar cell manufacturing plant in the state.

The plant is being set up at a 250 acre special economic zone (SEZ) location in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, under the National Solar Mission objective of achieving domestic solar photovoltaic cell production of 2200 MW per year, Lanco said in a statement here.

Towards realising the project, the company "has already done an investment of Rs.1200 crore to manufacture a poly-silicon refining and wafer plant and 150 MW module plant", it said.

"The salient feature of the project is that it already has approved and committed water and power availability, and all clearances for land and its usage," it added.

In this regard, an MOU was signed by Chhattisgarh industries secretary Subodh Singh and Lanco Solar president Raj Kumar Roy in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Commenting on the development L. Madhusudhan Rao, executive chairman Lanco Infratech, said: "We feel that the location of the plant is ideal as it is centrally located for the entire Indian market.

"Other salient features of the project that will attract investments are manufacturing units within the SEZ located in the state of Chhattisgarh," he added.