CESC plans 5,000 Mw hydel power worth Rs 30-35k cr

CESC Ltd. | Power Generation/Distribution | Power | BSE: 500084 | NSE: CESC

25 Jan 2010 Evaluate

Power utility CESC is planning to set up hydel power generation capacity of 5,000 Mw with a total fund requirement of Rs 30,000-35,000 crore. Resources for the project would come in the form of debt, equity and internal accruals. This would be the first time the company would foray into other ways of power generation than thermal production, however, the time-frame over which this capacity (5,000 Mw) addition would be made was not revealed.

The company would set up a 140-Mw hydel power plant at Lara Sunta in Himachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 700 crore to start with. Environment and 'four seasons' studies are currently going on for the project. Possible locations for other projects would be the north-east region and Himachal Pradesh. In the next six years, CESC's total generation capacity, both thermal and hydel, is expected to be around 6,500-7,000 Mw. The present thermal generation capacity is at 975 Mw.Regarding CESC's 600-Mw Haldia power plant, the contract would be awarded in February and the plant would be set up by a Chinese company without divulging the name. The capacity of Budge Budge plant in West Bengal would soon be raised by 250 Mw to touch 750 Mw. Partial returns from Budge Budge would accrue this fiscal. Full returns will come next year. CESC is looking at getting coal mines in countries like Mozambique and Australia, and is looking at long-term contracts in overseas mines.

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