Sahara India Power Corporation Ltd., the unit of Sahara Prime City Limited has informed that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Orissa for setting up a 1320 MW (2 x 660) Coal Based Thermal Power Plant in Turla Tehsil of Balangir District.

The Turla plant, which is proposed to be built on an area of 1,500 acres, planned to begin its first Unit of 660 MW by February 2013 while the second unit of 660 MW is expected to start working within 6 to 8 months thereafter.

Will use coal from mines acquired inS Africa, Indonesia

Having bought two coal mines, one each in South Africa and Indonesia, the GMR Group is all set to establish new power plants on the east and west coasts of India.

The group is already scouting for suitable locations for setting up thermal power plants, which would use the coal from the newly acquired mines. GM Rao, chairman, GMR Group, said, "We are looking at locations on the east and west coasts, particularly in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra."

Emerges as highest bidder for power distribution in Agra

After successfully undertaking power distribution in Maharashtra, Ahmedabad-based Torrent Power will expand in Uttar Pradesh. The company has emerged as the highest bidder for power distribution in Agra, after winning the bid for Kanpur. The financial as well as technical bids were opened on Wednesday. Though UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) is still to announce the winner, sources said that the company has proposed rate of Rs1.95 per unit, 10 paise higher than Reliance and 12 paise higher than Jamshedpur Utilities abd Services Company Ltd (JUSCO).

KEC International, one of the largest Power Transmission EPC companies in the world, has secured two orders worth Rs 227 crore from Power Grid Corporation for supplying power transmission equipment.

In a disclosure to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the maker of power equipment said that it has received two 765 kV S/c projects in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and in Punjab and Haryana from PGCIL.

Country's largest power generation and other heavy equipment maker, Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has informed that it has secured an order worth Rs 3,150-crore contract from the Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company for installing main plant package (steam turbines and generators).

It should be noted that this is the first order secured by BHEL for the new-rating units of 600 MW.

Country's largest power generation and other heavy equipment maker, Bharat Heavy Electricals has paid an interim dividend of Rs 298 crore to the Central Government for its financial performance during 2008-09.

On account of the equity participation of 67.72 per cent in the corporation, a dividend cheque for Rs 298 crore was presented to Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Sontosh Mohan Dev by BHEL Chairman and Managing Director K Ravi Kumar.