Suzlon gets CLP India nod for wind turbines

Pune, June 19 (IANS) Wind turbines major Suzlon Energy Ltd. Thursday said it has received a go-ahead from CLP India (formerly China Light and Power) for a 100.8 MW wind power project in Tejuva, Rajasthan.

"Suzlon group announced that it has received the Notice to Proceed (NTP) from CLP India, a leading investor-owned power business in Asia, and one of the largest foreign investors in the Indian power sector, for a 100.8 MW wind power project," the company said in a statement here.

The Rajasthan government on Wednesday approved an amendment to its wind energy law towards attracting investment of Rs.2,500 crore for the production of 400 MW power from windmills, that was awaited by CLP India to begin operations.

"With close to 1,000 equity MW, wind power now forms almost one-third of our entire portfolio in India", said Mahesh Makhija, director, renewables business development, CLP India.

The Hong-Kong listed CLP is one of the largest power companies in the Asia-Pacific region, with over 50 generation, transmission and distribution assets and retail businesses, and over 19,000 Mw of capacity in Hong Kong China, Australia, the Philippines and Laos.

CLP entered India in 2002 by acquiring a 655-Mw gas powered combined cycle plant, Gujarat Paguthan Energy Corporation (GPEC) at Bharuch, from Power Plc of the UK.

It also operates a coal-fired power station, the Mahatma Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project at Jhajjar, Haryana, that was commissioned in 2012.

CLP is the largest wind power generator in the country, with close to 500 MW of projects. It has operational wind farms among other places, at Khandke in Maharashtra, Samana in Jamnagar, Saundatti at Belgaum in Karnataka, and Theni in Tamil Nadu.