Coal news and updates

Adani eyes solar plant in Oz as coal plan remains stuck

India's edible oils-to-infrastructure and energy conglomerate Adani Group is looking at constructing a utility-size solar power project in Australia's Queensland province, where green litigations and delay in mining lease have pushed back the timetable for its US$16.5-billion composite project for developing the Carmichael coal mine, an associated railway line and port.

"We have applied for a licence (to set up a large solar project) but it would be too premature to comment on anything more," Jayant Parimal, chief executive of the group's renewable energy business, told TOI here.

Parimal is in Australia as part of a CII business delegation accompanying power, coal and renewable energy minister Piyush Goyal who is on a four-day visit to seek collaborations and investments in coal mining technology, liquid gas trade and skill development.

The Adani group's foray in the Australian solar power sector coincides with Canberra shifting its thrust from rooftop solar projects to large plants, much like the Narendra Modi government that has set a target of building 100 GW (giga watt) solar capacity by 2022.

Though the Adani group's presence in India's power sector is built on coal-fired plants aggregating 10,480 mw capacity, it has recently emerged as a key player in the solar arena. "We have 1,100 mw solar capacity under construction. Right now we have only a 40-mw (solar) plant in operation. We would attain 800 mw capacity by next March," Parimal said.

Source: TOI