Amreli emerging as power hotspot in Gujarat

With a host of companies queuing up to set up power projects in Amreli, the coastal district of Gujarat is fast emerging as a power hotspot.

An estimated 7,000 MW of power projects, which would require investment of around Rs30,000 crore, are coming up in Amreli. This would make Amreli as the district having highest power generation capacity after Kutch, where around 10,000 MW of power plants are coming up.

GSPC Pipavav Power Company (GPPC), a subsidiary of the state-owned GSPC, is setting up a 1,050-MW gas-based power plant at Kovaya village in Amreli at an investment of Rs4,000 crore. The first 350-MW unit of the much delayed plant is likely to be commissioned in October.

Hyderabad-based Patel Energy is setting up a 1,320-MW thermal power plant at Lunsapur and Lothpur villages in Amreli’s Jafrabad taluka. The plant, to be based on super critical technology, will come up at an investment of over Rs7,000 crore.

Officials attribute the power companies’ rush to Amreli to presence of good road and rail network.

“Amreli is very well connected with other districts, and land is easily available. The fast developing gas pipeline infrastructure in and around Amreli is another reason why power companies are finding it an attractive destination,” said a senior government official.

According to officials, Ahmedabad-based Torrent Power is also in the process of setting up a 1,000 MW coal-based power plant at Rampara in Amreli along with the state-owned Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL).

Visa Power is another company that has plans to set up a 1,320-MW coal-based power plant at Amreli. Likewise, Videocon Industries is setting up a 1,600-MW thermal power project at Bherai village in Pipavav. The plant will use imported coal as fuel.

And joining the queue is Sintex group, a manufacturer of water storage tanks. Sintex wants to set up a 1,720-MW power plant at an investment of Rs8,300 crore at Lunsapur in Jafrabad. The plant will comprise two coal-based units of 660-MW each and one 400-MW gas-based unit.

The proximity to Pipavav port, which would enable coal imports, has also contributed to power producers’ rush to Amreli. “The Mundra Port has played a big role in attracting power companies to Kutch. The Pipavav port is playing a similar role in the case of Amreli,” said an official.

With projects of more than 10,000 MW under construction, including 4,000-MW ultra mega power project of Tata Group and 4,600-MW project of Adani Group, Kutch leads as far as power generation capacity is concerned. Amreli would boast of power generation capacity of 7,000-MW in the next three to four years.