PANJIM: Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar has informed that the State government in the next 7 days will notify rules for tender inviting a bid from companies to set up a plant under the Goa Solar Power Policy.
The minister also stated that the company will set the plant on its own including purchasing of land required while the State government commitment will only be to purchase power at the prescribed rates.
Speaking to Herald, Madkaikar said, “In the next 7 days the government will notify rules for tender inviting a bid from companies to set a plant under the Goa Solar Power Policy. The tender rules are already ready. Soon after this a tender will be floated stating that government wants to purchase 80 megawatts power generated through the solar power plant for an amount for example Rs 3 per unit.”
He said, “The successful bidder or the company will set the plant on its own including purchasing of land required while the State government commitment will only be to purchase power at the prescribed rates.”
The solar power generated will give a boost to the state which is rapidly moving towards industrial sector and also act as an alternative to the existing source. Currently the State consumes about 550 to 600 MW of power daily. Under the policy, the State government aims to provide 150 MW of solar power to the grid by 2022, as per the available information on the website of GEDA.
The policy, prepared by the state-run Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA), was kept open for suggestions and objections from the public and stakeholders till 14 July.
Since Goa is eco-sensitive, thermal energy generation is not possible. Thus, Goa has to entirely depend on the thermal energy from other states, the draft said. “To attain self-reliance in power generation and to promote clean source of power generation, the solar policy is being adopted.
