MPCL bags power projects in Himachal

Malana Power Company Ltd (MPCL) - a subsidiary of Bhilwara Energy - has bagged two hydro power projects of 340 Mw in Himachal Pradesh, which would require an investment of Rs 2,200 crore.

The 200-Mw Bara Banaghal project on the Ravi basin and 140-Mw Chango on the river Spiti were bagged on the basis of competitive bidding in which MPCL had to pay an upfront fee of Rs 66 lakh/Mw and Rs 45 lakh/Mw. It already has 86-Mw Malana hydro project in Kullu.

"We have set a vision of achieving 1,500 Mw capacity by 2012 and development of these projects is a step towards realising this vision," said Ravi Jhunjhunwala, chairman, LNJ Bhilwara Group.

The company has already started work on the detailed project report (DPR) for the two projects and it is expecting to submit the DPR for approval to the Himachal Pradesh government by mid 2008, added Jhunjhunwala. The projects are likely to be commissioned by the end of 2012.

These projects have been awarded on build, operate, own and transfer (BOOT) basis for a period of 40 years. The company will provide free power from the projects to the Himachal government.

The total capacity under bidding was 628 Mw, of which 340 Mw has been awarded to MPCL. There were 14 companies in the fray for these projects, including Reliance Energy, Jaiprakash Hydro, GMR, Moser Baer, Gammon - Torrent Consortium, Larsen & Toubro.

Now, the total power generation capacity of MPCL in Himachal Pradesh would go up to 618 Mw and the combined hydro power generation capacity of Bhilwara Energy Ltd. across India would cross the 1,000 Mw mark.