Assam looks to generate 2,000 MW solar power at investment of Rs 10,000 crore

Assam is looking to augment its solar power generation capacity with Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) inking an MOU with NLC India Limited for setting up a 1000 MW renewable power plant in the state.
The MoU was signed by the Managing Director APDCL Rakesh Kumar and Director Planning and Projects of NLC India Limited K. Mohan Reddy in presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister for Coal, Mines Pralhad Joshi in Guwahati.

Under the MoU, the 1000 MW solar power plant to be set up in Assam will be a joint venture project on 49:51 ratios between APDCL and NLCIL to support the increasing power requirement of the state.

Sarma termed it a historic day for the state in the field of power generation. He said that since power requirement in Assam is increasing by leaps and bounds, the state should be in a position to produce more power to fulfil its own requirement and at the same time staying benign with the climate change.

He said that once commissioned this solar power plant will serve the state in a big way by meeting its own requirement and helping Assam to contribute to Prime Minister Modi’s agenda of combating climate change by producing more renewable energy.

He also said that besides this 1000 MW solar power plant, the State government is ready to have another joint venture with NLCIL for yet another 1000 MW green power project. He also said that the State government has a definite plan to reduce the state's dependence on fossil fuel and step up generation of green energy in the near future. He said that Assam should work to formulate a long term vision to plan the state’s growth and development.

Sarma also thanked Union Minister for Coal, Mines Pralhad Joshi for his help and leadership in enabling NLCIL to go for the joint venture with the State government in power generation. He also thanked the Union Minister for his initiative in starting the operation of North Eastern Coalfields of Coal India Limited in Margherita.