UK incorporated Essar Energy Plc has commissioned the first unit of 600 MW Salaya I power project in Gujarat. The project, which has been synchronised with the transmission grid, is being implemented at a cost of $1.03 billion (Rs 5,363 crore). “The synchronisation of unit 1, together with the others, will almost triple our power generation capacity,” Mr. Naresh Nayyar, chief executive, Essar Energy reportedly said. “The 600MW unit 1 is now able to deliver power to the grid and will be followed in due course by Salaya I unit 2, also of 600MW, where work is ongoing,” a company spokesperson added.

The coal-fired Salaya I project, with a total 1,200 MW capacity, is one of three power plants due to be fully commissioned by March 2012. The others include 1,200 MW Mahan I project and the 510MW Vadinar P2 project. These three projects will together add 2,910 MW to the company’s existing capacity of 1,600 MW and take Essar Energy’s total installed capacity to 4,510MW. A further seven power projects are under construction, and will take the total to 9,670 MW by Q1 of 2014.

“Th e synchronisation of unit 1, together with the others, will almost triple our power generation capacity,” Mr. Naresh Nayyar, Chief Executive, Essar Energy reportedly said..