JSW Energy on Monday said it has commenced construction of its 1,600 MW (2×800 MW) ultra supercritical thermal power plant in Salboni, West Bengal. The Rs 16,000 crore project is the Company’s largest greenfield project to date.
The plant is tied up under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company(WBSEDCL). The plant will utilise domestic coal allocated to West Bengal under the SHAKTI B (IV) policy, it said.
The Salboni project is a cornerstone in JSW Energy’s East India expansion strategy, aiming to bolster the region’s industrial infrastructure and create substantial employment opportunities, the company said.
JSW Energy also bought KSK Mahanadi Power Company, which owns a thermal plant, earlier this year.
“The upcoming 1600 MW Ultra supercritical thermal power plant of JSW Energy is the largest greenfield plant of our Group and the biggest thermal power project by the private sector in the state of West Bengal,” Sajjan Jindal, chairman of JSW group, said.
He said the plant will generate opportunities for more than 2000 jobs in direct and indirect employment.
They are also setting up a JSW Industrial Park here in Salboni, spread over 2000 acres, with a plug-&-play infrastructure in keeping with the latest urban planning principles, Jindal said.
“The industrial park will be a game changer in the industrial and economic growth in the state as well as the eastern region of our country,” he said.
The company has made strides towards its target of 20 GW power generation capacity significantly before 2030 by securing projects and having a locked-in capacity of more than 30 GW. The Company expects to reach 14 GW installed capacity by June 2025.
JSW Energy also has projects totalling 16.3 GWh in energy storage space, including one of India’s largest pumped hydro storage projects of 12 GWh. The Company is targeting 40 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2030.