Private firms responding to Open Sky policy

| 14 July 1998 10:22 IST

Industrialists are eagerly waiting for the private firms to take up power generation in the tourist state. Two firms have already come forward in response to the local Congress government's newly announced "open sky policy" to generate and sell the power directly.

Its immediate need is minimum 100 MW since Goa presently needs around 305 MW to run the tourist state. But new industries will have to still wait for one more year to think of starting any production in Goa, if no captive power generation plant is planned.

Realising the acute power shortage the state is presently facing, the high court has also banned new connections to any industry or commercial unit. The situation has arisen due to the government's indiscriminate policy of allowing power guzzlers here.

The Reliance Salgaocar Pvt Ltd, a combine of the Reliance Industries and Dhirubhai Ambani's son-in-law Dattaraj Salgaocar, is planning to expand its power generation plant by addition 100 MW.

Its first instalment of 40 MW, to be sold to the state government as per the PPA signed two years ago, would be commissioned by October this year. The RSPL has also signed another PPA with the Mormugao Port Trust to sell its additional 10 MW, which would be generated by the year end, once the system is changed to combine cycle.

Following this, the RSPL has now sought approval for additional 100 MW, which would be generated in two stages, first 50 MW by June next year and the rest by December. Letters of intent have already been received for 80 MW, the RSPL officials informed.

While the RSPL is planning to install a new dedicated line for the MPT, existing government lines are to be hired to supply additional power to Verna, Kundai and Madkai industrial estates. The price structure for the quality power would be within Rs 3.50, disclose the officials.

Desh Power Pvt Ltd, floated by another Goan industrialist Jitendra Deshprabhu in collaboration with two US-based firms, is also awaiting the government approval for 40 MW of multi-fuel project at Cuncolim industrial estate, where most of the power guzzlers of ferro alloy and steel are located.

Deshprabhu has tied up with well-known Florida-based IDM Environment Corporation and VSI - Satech to set up the project worth Rs 160 crore. "Since our fuel would be available in India itself unlike imported naphtha, our prices would be stable and much cheaper", claims Deshprabhu.

He is also planning to provide barge-mounted generator of 50 MW at Kundai, the industrial estate located in Ponda taluka, adjacent to the Zuari river. Over 20 industries, which are suffering due to acute power shortage, have come forward to purchase power, he adds.

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