Page 9 - AsiaElec Week 34 2021

AsiaElec RENEWABLES AsiaElec

India’s NTPC leads Indian

global solar drive

INDIA INDIA’S NTPC Ltd has secured three major pro- in these countries,” an NTPC spokesperson said,
jects in Africa and the Caribbean as part of the India’s Livemint reported.
Indian-led International Solar Alliance’s (ISA) Solar power is regarded by development
drive to improve access to power across the finance institutions (DFIs) such as the African
developing world. Development Bank (AfDB) as being crucial
NTPC has won a project management con- to achieving universal access to power. Of the
sultancy (PMC) contract for a 900-MW solar 650mn people expected to be without energy
project in Cuba, and has secured similar deals access in 2030, a majority are likely to be from
forMalawi (100 MW) and Niger (50 MW). Africa.
These contracts build on NTPC’s existing The ISA has 67 member states and aims to
projects in Mali (500 MW) and Togo (285 MW). have 1,000 GW of solar capacity in those coun-
NTPC has gained these contracts through the tries by 2030. It also aims to facilitate investment
ISA, a treaty-based inter-governmental organi- of at least $1 trillion.
sation that is headquartered in India. China has made major forays into Africa
NTPC is keen to secure business in other since 2004-05. New Delhi is opposed to the
ISA member countries in Africa such as Sudan, BRI, which seeks to invest about $8 trillion in
Congo, Mozambique, Egypt, Uganda, Rwanda, infrastructure projects across Asia, Europe and
Gambia, Tanzania, Senegal and Zimbabwe. Africa, as it says the initiative lures countries into
The ISA is now a significant foreign policy debt traps, and does not respect sovereignty or
tool for India, and is seen in New Delhi as offer- address environmental concerns.
ing a strategic alternative to China’s Belt and NTPC plans to reach 60 GW renewable
Road Initiative (BRI). energy capacity by 2032, from around 4 GW
“NTPC has been endorsed by the ISA as today.
project management consultant (PMC)/solar NTPC has also announced its target of 10%
project developer to ISA member countries in reduction in net energy intensity as part of its
November 2019 through a transparent and com- energy compact goals.
petitive process of Swiss Challenge. Under this At present, it currently has around 67 GW of
endorsement, NTPC and ISA have been jointly installed capacity across 71 power projects, most
approaching member countries for collaboration of which are coal- and gas-fired, with an addi-
in the implementation of solar parks and projects tional 17 GW under construction.™

Week 34 25•August•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P9