Patna, (Bihar Times): A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday between the Bihar government and Kolkata-based Nalanda Power Company, a unit of RPG group of companies, for setting up a 2000 (1000x2)-MW coal-based thermal power plant at Pirpainty in Bhagalpur district.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,000 crore and the first plant is likely to be completed by 2012. The MoU was signed between the secretary of Bihar State Electricity Board, Arvind K Singh and the Director of the Nalanda Power Company, Prabir Neogi. The state power minister, Ramashray Prasad Singh, was present on the occasion.
Besides power generation, distribution and transmission the Rs 13,500-crore RPG group is involved in tyres, retail, entertainment and technology business. It needs to be mentioned that the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC), an RPG company, brought thermal power to India when it set up its first power station in Kolkata way back in 1899.
About 600 acres of land have already been identified at Manikpur village in Pirpainty for the first phase of plant which would have a capacity to generate 1,000 MW. Tata Consultancy has prepared its pre-feasibility report.
According to Neogi the plant will also get coal linkages through Rajmahal coal mines in the neigbhouring Sahabganj district of Jharkhand.
