(a) whether any agreement in the field of power sector was reached between India
and America during 2000;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the names of the States and the companies in the power sector included in the
agreement; and
(d) the time and the extent to which benefits are likely to be accrued to India from
this agreement in the power sector?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRIMATI JAYAWANTI MEHTA )
(a) to (d) : The Government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
the Government of United States in September, 2000 which envisages establishing a Sub-
Ministerial Working Group to conduct energy consultations for the purpose of enhancing
the understanding of energy issues and promoting the exchange of information on energy
policies, programmes and technologies by consultations.
In addition to the above, the following agreements were signed in respect of three
power projects in the private sector in September, 2000. The details of agreements are
given below :
(i) A Memorandum of Understanding/Intent to Finance was signed between the
Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) and M/s. Synergics
Energy Development Inc of USA on September 14, 2000 for financing the 330
MW Shrinagar Hydro-electric Project of M/s Duncans North Hydro Power Co.
Ltd. in Uttranchal. The project is scheduled for completion by September, 2005.
(ii) A development agreement was signed between M/s Southern Energy Asia Pacific
Ltd. of USA and Reliance Power Ltd. and Power Trading Corporation of India
Ltd. on September 14, 2000 to jointly develop the 3960 (6x660) MW Hirma
Thermal Power Project in the State of Orissa. The first unit is expected to be
commissioned 39 months from the date of financial closure. Thereafter, the
remaining units will be commissioned one by one after a gap of 3 months each.
(iii) A joint Development Agreement was signed between M/s Tamil Nadu LNG and
Power Company Private Ltd., and Power Trading Corporation of India Ltd. on
September 14, 2000 for jointly developing the 1884.645 MW Ennore LNG based
power project in Tamil Nadu. The project will be completed 36 months from the
date of financial closure.
The Government also signed two Protocols of Intent in September, 2000. The
first one was for conducting a detailed technical and economic feasibility study for
setting up a commercial scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC)
demonstration power plant. The signatories include the Government of India, the United
States Government and also the NTPC and USAID. The second protocol was for
capacity building in the power sector and the signatories were the Government of India
and USAID which represents the Government of USA. No specific time frame have
been indicated in the above protocols.