Astonfield plans $25 mn solar power plant in WB

Geneva-based infrastructure management company Astonfield Management (AML) will set up the country's largest solar power plant at Bankura in West Bengal.The project will be operational in two years.

"The plant at Bankura will have 5 mw capacity and a joint venture has been created with Sun Edison, North America's largest solar energy service provider, for this purpose. We will invest $25 million in the project, which will be spread over 15 acres. The work on the project is expected to start in December," Saurabh Sen, director of AML, said.

Astonfield is betting big on solar power, eyeing 100 mw solar power projects, as the tariffs are likely to come down. The company is in talks with solar panel manufacturers to use their expertise in the Bengal project.

It plans to manufacture the equipment locally so as to contain the installation costs, which are pegged at $4.5-5 million (about Rs 100 crore) per mw. Astonfield is also eyeing the modernisation of tier-2 airports in the country and will bid for the upgradation of Amritsar and Udaipur airports.

"We have lined up $300 million for landside development of airports and are aiming at modernisation work of 10 airports in India. The airport modernisation business promises healthy returns as there is a 35-40 per cent year-on-year growth in air traffic in the country. We will consider only those airports where the passenger traffic is at least 4 million per annum", Saurabh Sen, director, said.

Astonfield will invest $350-500 to set up 1,250 telecom towers in the country. The company is talking to BSNL, VSNL, Airtel and Vodafone to lease towers, which can also be used to provide Wi-Max services.

Astonfield has also held discussions with the West Bengal IT minister Debesh Das for the creation of infrastructure for rural telephony and Wi-Max services in North Bengal, Sen said.