The Hindu Business Line : Tata Power eyes S. Africa, Bangladesh

Its expansion activities and new projects, both domestic and overseas, would entail investments of Rs 18,500 crore, said Mr Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Power, at the company's AGM on Thursday. He did not specify the time that these investments would take to be made.

The company is looking at setting up a 500-MW coal-based plant in South Africa through a joint venture at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore, he said, but would not elaborate on the identity of the partner or the geographical location of the plant in that country.

The company's 1,000-MW power plant in Bangladesh (whether based on coal or gas would be decided later) entails $240 million of equity and $570 of debt, and is in the process of negotiation. A part of the power from this plant will feed the Tata group's steel and fertiliser projects in Bangladesh, and the rest will be fed into that country's grid.

The company's equity in the Maithon power project in Jharkhand will amount to Rs 840 crore, the project itself involving equity of Rs 1,140 crore and debt of Rs 2,600 crore.

The 1,000-MW power plant, which was to be set up near Mumbai at Vile and has been in the planning stage for long, could face slight relocation as the captive jetty to get fuel to the project may conflict with plans for the Mumbai trans-harbour link, said Mr Tata. The company would like to have the plant nearer to the coast, so that fuel can be brought directly to the plant, he said.

Capacity expansion of 250 MW to the company's existing capacity and increase of peaking power of the company's hydro-power project are also on the cards.

The company also has interests in transmission, as it is a participant in the 1,200-km Tala project.

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