BHUBANESWAR: The State Government today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the JSL Limited for establishment of a 1320 MW super thermal power plant at Luni in Dhenkanal district.
The company will draw water from the Mahanadi river system for the plant.
JSL will invest Rs 7,375 crore and create employment opportunity (direct and indirect) for 2,600 persons in Orissa.
Around 158 to 185 MW will be available for the State from this project at variable cost depending on the coal block availability.
Addressing the function, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked the thermal power plants to go for clean coal technology to reduce carbon dioxide emission by opting for the coal beneficiation method.
Naveen advised the promoters to improve the boiler efficiency through appropriate technology. He said that the independent power producers ( IPPs) should adopt effective fly ash management plan.
Stating that power projects should be implemented in harmony with the natural environment and the stakeholders, he said that a sound environment management and rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) should be part of every project.
Water also assumes utmost significance, he added.
The Chief Minister asked the Energy Department to bring together all the IPPs in the State and establish through collective efforts a power management institute to promote discipline in energy/electrical engineering and management.
Employment to the local people with a minimum 90 per cent in unskilled and semi-skilled, minimum of 60 per cent in skilled level and minimum of 30 per cent at the supervisory managerial level will be provided by the promoters.
The JSL Limited has requested the State Government to allocate 2,000 acres of land free from all encumbrances through the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) for the development and implementation of the project.
The State Government will provide the required cooperation and critical support in the shape of land, water, law and order support to the promoters to establish the plant.
The MoU was signed by Energy Secretary Pradip Kumar Jena and Rajdeep Mohanty, resident director (Orissa project) of the JSL Limited.
Minister of State for Energy Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak spoke.