The government of Arunachal Pradesh State has signed agreements with three India developers to carry out nine hydroelectric projects totaling 13,830 MW.
India Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Arunachal Chief Minister Gegon Apang announced the signings September 21 between the state government and three Central Power Sector utilities, NTPC Ltd., North Eastern Electric Power Corp. (NEEPCO), and National Hydroelectric Power Corp. (NHPC).
Under terms of the memoranda of understanding:
o NTPC is to implement the 4,000-MW Etalin and 500-MW Attunli projects. Both were among 162 hydro projects for which detailed project reports were prepared under India’s 2003 initiative to develop 50,000 MW of hydropower;
o NEEPCO is to develop the 1,120-MW Kemeng 1 and 110-MW Pare projects; and
o NHPC is to implement the 750-MW Tawang 1 and 750-MW Tawang 2 projects.
Additionally, NHPC is to take up the 3,000-MW Dibang project through a joint venture between the utility and the Arunachal Pradesh government. In 2005, NHPC conducted geological exploratory work at the Dibang multipurpose project site on the Dibang River.
NHPC also is to develop the 1,600-MW Subansiri Middle and 2,000-MW Subansiri Upper projects on the Subansiri River after resolution of certain issues relating to the environment and to neighboring states.
India’s Power Ministry said the projects equal almost a third of Arunachal Pradesh’s total hydropower potential and require investment of 750 billion rupees (US$16.3 billion).
Shinde said a Local Area Development Trust has been created by the agreements to consider developmental activities for the people of the affected areas. In addition to state revenues from the 12 percent free power from each project, an amount of 1 paise (0.02 US cent) per kilowatt-hour is to be contributed by each project to the trust.
