25 November, 2011

Essar Energy announced that the first of two 600 megawatt units at its Salaya I power generation project in Gujarat state has been synchronised with the transmission grid.

The coal fired Salaya I project, with a total 1,200MW capacity, is one of three power plants due to be fully commissioned by March 2012. The others are the 1,200MW Mahan I project and the 510MW Vadinar P2 project.

Together these three projects will add 2,910MW to the existing capacity of 1,600MW and take Essar Energy’s total installed capacity to 4,510MW. A further seven power projects are under construction which will take the total to 9,670MW by the first quarter of 2014.

Naresh Nayyar, Chief Executive, Essar Energy said: “The synchronisation of unit 1 at Salaya, together with the others due in the coming months, will almost triple our power generation capacity. The three generation projects now nearing completion will transform cash flows and profitability within our power business.”

Work is ongoing to prepare unit 2 at Salaya I, which is also 600MW, for synchronisation with the grid.