Coal Mining Company NLCIL Signs MoU For RE Projects With APDCL

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by coal mining company NLC India Ltd and Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL). It may be noted that Tamil Nadu based NCL India Ltd and APDCL- fully owned by the Assam Government, are Navratna public sector organisations.

According to the agreement, the objective of the MoU is to increase operations in India’s northeast. NLCIL, which is administratively supervised by the Ministry of Coal, & APDCL, which is fully owned by the Government of Assam, have chosen to each contribute 51% of the company’s ownership to establish a joint venture enterprise.

The MoU establishes a joint venture business with equity participation of 51% by NLCIL and 49% by APDCL to develop 1,000 MW solar projects in Assam. 

The occasion witnessed the presence of Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam and the Union Coal Minister, Pralhad Joshi. Himanta Biswa Sarma took to his social media and said, “The projects will mark a quantum leap in State’s capacity to generate green power.”

The MoU paves the way for the development of a 1,000 MW solar power project in the state of Assam to provide electricity to people  while preserving the environment with renewable energy sources. Through the provision of employment opportunities, technological know-how, and general state improvement, this effort will assist Assam in its development.

NLCIL operates mines in addition to its 6,061 MW of power-producing capacity, which includes 1421.06 MW of renewable energy capacity, comprising 51 MW of wind and 1,370.06 MW of solar electricity. NLCIL is a member of the International Solar Alliance and the first CPSE to generate solar power with a capacity of 1 GW. By launching this solar project, NLCIL will take a significant step toward realising its ambitious goals of having a capacity of about 17,171 MW, including 6,031 MW of renewable energy, by 2030.

NLC India recently invited bids for the construction of 500 MW of interstate transmission system-connected solar power projects across the nation in July 2022. The scope of work included getting approval for connectivity and long-term access, buying land, designing, engineering, developing the site, manufacturing, inspecting at the supplier’s facility, supplying, insuring, transporting, erecting, and inspecting the total awarded capacity as well as the associated evacuation framework up to the delivery point at the ISTS/CTU substation.