(CW)
The West Bengal Cabinet has approved a 100 MW capacity expansion of eastern India’s largest solar power plant at Goaltore in West Midnapore, following its recent inauguration by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The plant currently generates 112.5 MW and was developed with support from Germany’s KfW Bank in an 80:20 funding arrangement. Announcing the decision, Irrigation and Waterways Minister Manas Bhunia said the Rs 6.8 billion expansion project will see Rs 4.75 billion contributed by the German partner, with the remaining 30% funded by the state government. He added that the pollution-free project will contribute to local employment generation while significantly boosting renewable energy output. Chief Minister Banerjee has also set a broader target of scaling up West Bengal’s total power generation capacity to 18,000 MW in the coming years. From just 2,000 MW in 2011, the state currently produces 10,000 MW, and five new power projects are underway as part of a Rs 480 billion investment plan.
