by Sawon Banerjee | Aug 6, 2021 | News
NTPC’s renewable energy arm will set up India’s single-largest solar photovoltaic project at Rann of Kutch at Khavada in Gujarat, the company issues a statement NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. has received the renewable energy ministry’s nod to build the project with a capacity of up 4750 MW.
NTPC REL will produce green hydrogen on a commercial scale from the park. The solar project is part of the parent’s plan to transform itself from the country’s biggest coal burner into a green energy major.
The NTPC project will be almost twice the capacity of the Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan which is currently the largest single-location solar power project in the country. NTPC has a target of building 60 GW renewable energy capacities by 2032. The company now has 70 power plants with a total installed capacity of 66 GW and an additional 18 GW capacity is under construction.
by Sawon Banerjee | Aug 6, 2021 | News
In the run-up to UN climate summit named COP 26, New Delhi-based International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) launched its India Just Transition Centre (IJTC). Its inaugural virtual session was attended, among others, by MPs Jairam Ramesh and Jayant Sinha and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal, Vinod Kumar Tewari.
Speaking at the event, Ramesh emphasized on the need to create capacity in India on just transition. “There is need to create independent research capacity which will be the base for advocacy and eventually a larger policy change. The IJTC will have an important role in creating this capacity and bringing the expertise together,” he said.
Developed countries are building capacity and knowledge on how to implement a just energy transition roadmap to meet net-zero targets. Sinha, from the Hazaribagh constituency, a key coal district of Jharkhand, emphasized the need to start planning for a just transition in coal mining areas.
“Phasing out coal over the next two to three decades is essential to meet climate goals. The planning for this must start now. The IJTC will play an important role in bridging the gap between state and national policy and the ground realities,” said Sinha.
Presenting the vision of IJTC, Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, said, “The IJTC will be a platform to bring stakeholders together to work on various aspects of just transition in India. Envisioned as a centre of excellence, the IJTC will provide thought leadership, support policies and planning, provide technical support, promote best practices, and build capacity of various stakeholders.” The IJTC is planning to launch a resource centre for just transition in the coming months. “By launching the IJTC, iFOREST has made a long term commitment to work on a just energy transition,” said Bhushan.
by Sawon Banerjee | Aug 6, 2021 | News
Commuters on the Yamuna Expressway will now be able to use FASTag to electronically pay toll tax on the privately-managed highway connecting Noida and Agra, officials issued a statement. The service was inaugurated at the Jewar toll plaza of the expressway on Tuesday in presence of the officials of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and the Jaypee Infratech.
“The FASTag service was expected to come up earlier but got delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic,” YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh said at the inauguration event. The 165-km-long expressway has three toll plazas – Jewar, Mathura and Agra on the route. All the plazas will have four FASTag lanes, two on either side, according to officials.
by Sawon Banerjee | Aug 6, 2021 | News
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 16 national highway projects in Manipur with laying the foundation stone with an investment of ₹4,148 crores covering a total length of 298kms. As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, an all-weather connectivity to Manipur with the rest of the country and the neighbouring countries will be provided with the projects.
Besides aiding to boost agricultural, industrial and socio-economic progress of the region, the highway projects will also promote health care and emergency service to the remotest of the areas and generate employment and self-employment opportunities.
While inaugurating the projects in Imphal Gadkari said projects worth ₹5000 crores have also been sanctioned for the state and the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) will be completed within six months and the work will start in a year’s time. He said the expansion of highways in the state will be recommended under the Bharatmala Phase ll.
“Prime Minister is giving highest priority to the northeast and road infrastructure will contribute in the development of Manipur and make it socially and economically strong,” he said. The minister said that water, power, transport and communication are the four most important things for the development of industry, for generating employment and eradicating poverty. “Manipur is a very beautiful state with immense potential for tourism,” said Gadkar
by Sawon Banerjee | Aug 6, 2021 | News
Jindal Stainless (JSL) said that the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Steel Mining (TSML) for jointly pull out the chrome ore locked up in the boundary between their mines located in Sukinda of Jajpur district, Odisha. This would help with the conservation of chromite ore which otherwise would have been left unmined forever.
M.C. Thomas, Managing Director, Tata Steel Mining, said, “I am very happy to commence this project today with JSL who has been a valued customer and partner. We are committed to sustainable mining and such a joint initiative will set examples for organizations especially in the mining industry to collaborate in the larger interest of mineral conservation and sustainability. These will redefine the way mining is done through technology, mineral conservation and safety”.
Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director, JSL, said, “This is a very unique collaboration where JSL & TSML will derive maximum value from a joint mining effort. This effort will enhance the availability of ore in the region without any adverse environmental impact, as it’s an already explored area. The move will also benefit local economy. As responsible institutions, we are committed to sustainable mining activity in the region.”
