JSW Energy has begun the construction of its 1600MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant in Salboni, West Bengal, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion strategy in East India.
The project, valued at Rs160 bn ($1.8bn), is the company’s largest greenfield project to date.
The Salboni plant will play a pivotal role in supporting regional economic growth by utilising domestic coal under the SHAKTI B (IV) policy.
This initiative is expected to ensure energy security for West Bengal and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, with a focus on skill development and local sourcing to benefit the Salboni region.
The project, tied up under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), aligns with JSW Energy’s target of achieving 20GW of power generation capacity well before 2030.
With secured projects and a locked-in capacity of more than 30GW, the company is on track to reach 14GW of installed capacity by June this year.
JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal said: “The upcoming 1600MW Ultra supercritical thermal power plant of JSW Energy is the largest greenfield plant of our Group and the biggest thermal power project by the private sector in the state of West Bengal.”
Furthermore, JSW Energy’s growth trajectory includes the recent approval to acquire KSK Mahanadi Power Company’s 3.6GW coal-fired thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh, part of the company’s resolution plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016.
The operational segment of the plant comprises three units with a combined capacity of 1.8GW, which are 95% secured under long and medium-term PPAs.
The company is also investing in the energy storage space, with significant projects totalling 16.3 gigawatt-hours (GWh), including one of India’s largest pumped hydro storage projects at 12GWh.
JSW Energy has set a target of achieving 40GWh of energy storage capacity by 2030.
