Assam Clears Decks for JV With Neyveli For 1000 MW Solar Power

The Assam government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma continues to move rapidly on scaling up its renewable energy plans. On June 11, the government approved an investment worth Rs 5,000 crore for commissioning and generation of 1,000 MW of solar power in collaboration with Navratna PSU company Neyveli Lignite Corporation, under the aegis of Union Coal Ministry.

Addressing the media afterwards, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the purpose is to make the state energy independent and self reliant. “A joint venture company with Neyveli Lignite Corporation will be floated to generate the 1000 MW solar power on government land. This will be the first such initiative among PSUs in the energy sector. A 75 MW solar plant at Amguri was recently inaugurated, and a few other units with a total capacity of 100 MW in different parts of the state will be commissioned next month. But we want to go for large-scale solar power generation” he added.

Driving home his point, he expressed the sincerity of his government to clear the hurdles on the way by adding further that over 1,000 proposals for settlement of land, pending with the revenue department, for more than a few decades, were also cleared by the cabinet. “Some of these proposals were pending since 1992 and nearly 30 per cent of burden on the revenue department is settled. In the next cabinet meeting, we will take up the pending proposals submitted by NGOs,” he said.

Sarma stressed that the state government is committed to clean energy, always blessed with high potential. A couple of days ago, Director Finance of Shimla based state owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), Akhileshwar Singh met with the Sarma in Guwahati and discussed ways to develop renewable energy in the state.

The state owned SJVN, which has been paying attention to East India will now partner with Assam for the development of hydro power and other renewable energy projects. As per the reports, the two discussed the possibilities for solar power, battery storage and hydrogen plants in the state. The Chief Minister showed interest of his government in partnering SJVN in a hydropower project that the company is about to build in Arunachal Pradesh.