Aizawl, Aug 30 (PTI) Mizoram is stepping up efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity, with the state government pursuing several solar and hydropower projects, officials said.
The state generated 41.86 million units (MU) of solar power and 31.04 MU from Small Hydel Projects (SHPs) in 2024-25, they said.
The state government is pushing ahead with plans to expand solar power generation.
Solar projects with capacities of 20 MWp at Vankal in Khawzawl district, 2 MWp at Tlungvel in Aizawl district and 10 MWp at Thenzawl in Serchhip have already been installed and commissioned, while a 5 MWp ground-mounted project at Sumsuih in Aizawl district is under construction, they said.
Several more locations across the state also have been identified for future solar power projects, they said.
Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the state had received 1,532 applications for rooftop solar installations as of August 14, with installations completed in 1,417 households, they said.
The government is also working on Government Building Solarisation (GBS), including identification and assessment of government buildings suitable for rooftop solar installations.
Officials said that efforts were also underway for tendering and execution of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for solar projects at various identified locations.
On the hydropower front, the state is pursuing the 24-MW Tuirini Small Hydel project in Aizawl district and the much larger 132-MW Tuivai Hydroelectric project in Saitual district near the Manipur border, according to officials.
For the Tuirini project, foundation stone has been already laid and formation cutting for a 9-km approach road has been completed, they said.
Processes relating to forest clearance, social impact assessment and land acquisition are underway, while preparations for tendering are being carried out through a project management consultant, they said.
The project has an administrative approval of Rs 676.98 crore.
The state has received an expenditure sanction of Rs 10.50 crore and an allocation of Rs 50 crore, with a further expenditure sanction being sought, officials said.
The project is expected to receive a Rs 541.58-crore loan from the New Development Bank (NDB), while the state government is expected to contribute Rs. 135.40 crore, they said.
Meanwhile, the 132-MW Tuivai Hydroelectric project has made progress under the Infrastructure Investment Fund for Development Projects (IIPDF) scheme of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.
Its revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been completed, and efforts are underway to take it up as an Externally Aided Project (EAP) under the state government.
Officials also said that the state is also moving towards corporatisation of the Power and Electricity Department (P&ED). As part of the exercise, the department is being reorganised into three Strategic Business Units (SBUs).
The proposal is currently under consideration by the Administrative Reforms Wing of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DP&AR), they said. PTI CORR RG
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