Chhattisgarh Energy Boom: CM Vishnu Deo Sai Pitches Rs 5.60 Lakh Crore Investment Roadmap
CM Vishnu Deo Sai outlines a massive Rs 5.60 lakh crore energy roadmap for Chhattisgarh, focusing on renewables and thermal power expansion.
Chhattisgarh is positioning itself as a powerhouse for India's future energy needs. At the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo in New Delhi, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai unveiled a massive investment roadmap worth Rs 5.60 lakh crore over the next five years, inviting global investors and industry leaders to fuel the state's energy transformation.
The four-day summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, served as the stage for the Chief Minister to detail how Chhattisgarh intends to balance its traditional strengths in thermal power with an aggressive shift toward green energy. The event saw the presence of Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister of State Shripad Yesso Naik.
A Massive Push for Green and Thermal Power
The state's financial blueprint for the energy sector is divided into several high-impact areas. A significant portion of the investment is dedicated to diversifying the energy mix:
- Renewable Energy: Rs 1.33 lakh crore is earmarked for projects with a proposed capacity of 23,923 MW.
- Thermal Power: Approximately Rs 3.27 lakh crore will be directed toward expanding thermal power generation capacity.
Chhattisgarh aims to dramatically scale its green energy capacity from the current 3,000 MW to 15,000 MW by 2030. This shift is designed to increase the share of green energy in the state's total electricity demand from 15 per cent to over 45 per cent, contributing significantly to India's national goal of 500 gigawatts from non-conventional sources by 2030.
Diversifying the Energy Portfolio
While the state already boasts coal-based thermal plants exceeding 28,000 MW, the government is now pursuing a balanced expansion. This includes a heavy focus on solar, hydroelectric, biomass, and advanced energy storage.
Hydro and Battery Storage
To ensure a reliable and steady power supply, the state has identified 10 pumped-storage hydroelectric projects. With a total capacity of 12,300 MW, these projects are expected to attract investments of around Rs 65,000 crore. Additionally, the state plans to deploy battery energy storage systems with a capacity of 10,000 megawatt-hours over the next two years.
Progress is already visible in Rajnandgaon, where a 40 MW/120 MWh battery storage system is operational, paired with a 100 MW solar project.
Nuclear and Bio-Energy Ambitions
The roadmap also looks toward the future of high-capacity and sustainable fuels:
- Nuclear Power: Investments of approximately Rs 1.60 lakh crore are envisioned for projects including nuclear power plants with a capacity of about 4,200 MW.
- Bio-Resources: The state is leveraging agricultural waste and cow dung to produce green hydrogen, bio-ethanol, and compressed biogas. Eight compressed biogas plants (80 metric tonnes capacity) are underway with an investment of Rs 800 crore, while private proposals worth Rs 6,000 crore are being processed.
Bringing Power to the Grassroots
The energy revolution is not just industrial but also rural. Chief Minister Sai highlighted several success stories in bringing solar power to the common citizen:
Khera Village: Located in the Rajnandgaon district, Khera has become the state's first fully solar-powered village. Every one of the 141 households has 2-kilowatt solar panels, generating 282 kilowatts of electricity. Notably, 93 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were solarized at no cost to the residents.
Agricultural Impact: Under the 'Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana', about 1.26 lakh solar power units have been installed. Furthermore, 1.66 lakh solar-powered irrigation pumps are currently serving nearly 1.94 lakh hectares of farmland. The state also plans to add 395 MW of solar capacity through the 'Pradhan Mantri KUSUM Yojana'.
"The state government is moving forward by balancing industrial development, energy security, and environmental conservation," stated Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.