Time for consolidation in Indian power sector: Gautam Adani

A day after sealing Rs 6,000-crore deal to acquire 1,200-MW Udupi power plant, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani today said it is time now for consolidation in the Indian power sector.
Marking another big ticket transaction in the domestic power sector, Adani Power has agreed to acquire Lanco Infratech's Udupi thermal plant in a deal worth over Rs 6,000 crore.
"Now is the time for consolidation in the Indian power sector. As a leading private power producer, Adani Power, has taken the lead and acquired the Udupi thermal project.
"This marks our entry into southern India and we are bullish of expanding our presence further in the country," Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said in a statement.

Adani Power is part of diversified Adani group.
According to him, the company is confident of having 20,000 MW power generation capacity by 2020.

Adani Power-Lanco Infratech deal came less than 3 weeks after Reliance Power agreed to acquire three hydel projects of Jaypee Group. Adani Power was also in the race for those hydro plants.
The acquisition of Udupi plant is a "strategic fit to the integrated infrastructure business model of the Adani Group," the statement said.
"With one more unit of 660 MW commissioning at Tiroda (plant) shortly and the acquisition of 1,200 MW Udupi power plant, the installed base of Adani Power will increase to 10,440 MW," it added.

At present, the company has a generation capacity of 8,580 MW.
Adani Power has executed "a definitive agreement" for acquiring 100 per cent shares of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd from Lanco Infratech.
Udupi Power Corp is implementing the 1,200 MW plant.
The group would endeavour to expand the Udupi plant's generation capacity "expeditiously" by leveraging its project execution capabilities.
"Adani Power is also committed to seize further opportunities for capacity addition and provided much needed energy security of Southern India," the statement noted.
Already a pact has been inked with Karnataka government for expanding the plant's generation capacity to 1,320 MW.

Yesterday, Lanco Infratech had said the deal would enable Lanco to receive about Rs 2,000 crore as cash and Adani Power Power would take Udupi plant's long-time debt of around Rs 4,000 crore.
While 90 per cent of the electricity generated from the Udupi plant is supplied to Karnataka, the remaining is given to Punjab.