JSW Energy mulls three hydel plants in HP, Sikkim

Mumbai, July 23 (PTI) Appearing bullish on alternative sources of power, JSW Energy is mulling setting up three new hydel plants in Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

"We are currently doing due diligence to set up three plants in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh as we feel these states have a good potential," JSW Energy Chief Financial Officer Pramod Menon told reporters here today.

The plants will have a total installed capacity "in the range of 80-240 MW", Menon said, stating the company does not plan to foray into neighbouring countries like Bhutan in pursuit of hydroelectric power.

The company is currently setting up a 240 MW hydel plant at Kutehr, Himachal Pradesh. It held a public hearing for the plant recently and land acquisition work is in progress, JSW Energy Vice-Chairman N K Jain said.

The Kutehr facility is expected to be operational by 2015 and would require a total investment of Rs 1,915 crore.

All the other plants of the company -- at Maharashtra''s Ratnagiri, Vijaynagar in Karnataka and Barmer in Rajasthan -- are fired by conventional sources like coal.
JSW, facing resistance from locals at Ratnagiri who fear damage to mango crops, would go slow on its planned Rs 16,000-crore expansion in the coastal district to add an additional 3,200 mw to capacity. .