Lanco inks MoU with Chhattisgarh for solar cell plant

Lanco Solar Pvt Ltd, arm of Lanco Infratech, today inked a pact with Chhattisgarh to set up 100 MW solar cell manufacturing plant.
"Lanco Infratech Ltd (LITL) today announced its subsidiary Lanco Solar signed an agreement with Chhattisgarh. As per the MOU inked today with Chhattisgarh, Lanco Solar will set up 100 MW solar cell manufacturing plant," the company said in a statement.
For the integrated solar PV manufacturing project, which restarted in July, LITL has already invested Rs 1,200 crore to manufacture Poly-Silicon Refining and Wafer Plant and 150 MW module plant.
The project is being set up at a 250 acre SEZ location in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh under the National Solar Mission objective of achieving domestic PV cell production of 2,200 MW/year and the Make in India initiative.

The project has already approved and committed water and power availability and all clearances for land and its usage, the company said.
The MoU was signed today in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, state's Industry Secretary Subodh Singh, Lanco Solar President Raj Kumar Roy, Executive Chairman of Lanco L Madhusudhan Rao and Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, the company said.

Lanco Infratech Executive Chairman L Madhusudhan Rao said: "We are elated to be part of the MOU as this will be a showcase project being the first poly silicon and Ingots & Wafers manufacturing facility coming up in India. At the same time it plays anchor Industry role to attract investments in other solar PV manufacturing units within this plug & play SEZ zone."

"Other salient features of the project that will attract investments are Manufacturing units within SEZ located in State of Chhattisgarh would also have logistic advantage for marketing being centrally located for entire Indian market. The existing industrial zone within 40 - 80 km periphery of this SEZ would provide adequate manpower and sub-vendor base support to manufacturing units in this SEZ," Rao added.
Lanco has decided to earmark around 150 acres within its Solar SEZ for domestic and foreign companies interested in setting up Solar manufacturing facilities in India - unique advantage for interested solar projects in India, the statement said.

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"The state is committed to make National Solar Mission a great success and contribute to achieve 100 GW of Solar power target in the country by 2022," Singh said.
The MoU worth Rs 290 crore isexpected to be functional by January 2017 andwill be set up within 250 acre Solar Special Economic Zone (SEZ) located in Rajnandgaon district,the official said adding that it will create a direct employment opportunities for over 150 people.
The solar SEZ in Rajnandgaon having plug-and-play facilities for solar component manufacturers is being developed under National Solar Mission with objective of achieving domestic solar PV cell production of 2,200 MW/year and boost ambitious Make in India programme of the Centre, the official said.