The Hindu Business Line : Bhilwara bags hydropower projects in Arunachal

Power drive
The projects to be developed on the river Nyamjung Chhu entail an investment of about Rs 1,700 crore
It is to be implemented in three phases with an ultimate target of generating about 1,300 million units of power annually on 50 per cent plant load factor

Kolkata March 8 Bhilwara Energy Ltd (BEL), part of the Delhi-based LNJ Bhilwara Group, has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Arunachal Pradesh Government for development of three hydropower projects with a total capacity of 290 MW.

The projects to be developed on the river Nyamjung Chhu in the Tawang district of the state, entail an investment of about Rs 1,700 crore.

As per the MoA, the project has been awarded to BEL on build, own, and operate basis for a period of 40 years. The company will also provide 12 per cent of the generated power to Arunachal Pradesh free of cost for the designated period. The land and site required by BEL for construction, operation and maintenance of the project will be provided by the State Government on a 40-year lease. Bhilwara Energy will be making its own arrangements for evacuation and distribution of power from the site. Though it will be making its own arrangement for sale of power Arunachal Pradesh will have the first right of refusal.

Explaining the project details, a senior company source said, "the Group has set a vision of achieving 1,500-MW capacity by the year 2012 and development of these projects is a step towards realising the said target."

It is pointed out that Bhilwara Energy has deputed its in-house power consultancy company ICCS to identify these projects and carry out preliminary study.

The project is to be implemented in three phases — 98 MW, 97 MW and 95 MW, with an ultimate target of generating about 1,300 million units of power annually on 50 per cent plant load factor. However, the final ratings and capacity will be decided after completion of detailed project report (DPR).

BEL plans to furnish DPR to the Government for approval in the next 12-15 months, and it envisages to commence work on the project towards the middle of 2008.

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