Wednesday, July 5 2006 10:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Raipur: Chhattisgarh will become India's power hub by 2011 with an additional power generation of 12,000 MW, according to Chief Minister Raman Singh.

"The state has the potential to meet India's growing energy demands for the next 100 years with the total power generation capacity of up to 100,000 MW," Singh told IANS in an interview.

"The state has Rs.440-billion investment in the offing in both public and private sectors and the work for power generation will begin by 2011," he said.

The world's sixth largest power generator, National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC), is expected to start 2,980 MW power generation by December 2009 at its plant at Sipat, near Bilaspur, with an investment of Rs.130 billion.

NTPC already has a 2,100 MW power plant in the Korba region.

"The Sipat first phase will see power generation of 1,980 MW (660MW x 3) and the second phase 1,000 MW (500x2)," an NTPC official said.

The central government will set up a Rs.160-billion ultra mega integrated power project of 4,000 MW at Lara in Raigarh district.

Public sector major Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) is also building a 1,000-MW plant in a joint venture with the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB) in Surguja district. The equity holding ratio between the two parties will be 74:26 with an investment of Rs.45 billion. IFFCO inked the deal in June 2005.

Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) too has announced an investment of Rs.160 billion for 1,000 MW (250x4) power generation before March 2008 from its units that are under construction at Tamnar near Raigarh.

In addition, Essar Steel will bring in an investment of Rs.40 billion for a 1,000-MW power plant to be installed in the same region by 2010.

"Dozens of major private players are lining up with proposals, but only those having plans to set up production units over 1,000 MW will be entertained," the chief minister said.