Odisha's power trader Gridco to buy 300 Mw from ensuing SECI auctions

Odisha’s bulk power buyer and trader Gridco has shown enhanced appetite for solar power. Close on the heels of its maiden auctions for 200 Mw capacities, the power trader is eyeing procurement of 300 Mw more from the ensuing auctions to be conducted by the Solar Electrification Corporation of India (SECI). To firm up its share, Gridco has entered into a power sales agreement with SECI. Power from the capacities to be auctioned, is expected to feed the state grid from the end of 2019-20 onwards. The schedule is in sync with the normative 18-month gestation period for commissioning a solar power unit. Gridco, despite its pressing Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO), has been sluggish to buy green power. Until its recent solar tenders, the state controlled entity was shelling out Rs 4.5 per unit to purchase solar power. More, the profusion of coal-fired capacities in Odisha had dissuaded the bulk power buyer to build its renewable pool. But, the competitive price discovery at the auctions and the promise of cheaper power tariffs at SECI auctions has enthused Gridco.

12 Odisha start ups to get Google's technological, financial support

Twelve startups from Odisha have qualified to receive technological and financial support from Google for three years.

Under the initiative, free credits will be provided to these startups so that they can focus on building their business and let Google take the responsibility of scaling and securing their infrastructure.

“The search engine has selected 12 startups across sectors to use services of Google like AdWords, application programming interfaces (API), cloud services. Google will provide these startups with a credit of $3000 to use these services in the first year,”, said an official sources

For three years, start-ups will get $100,000 from Google provided they fulfil certain criterions, he added.

The state government is also planning to sign a pact with Google to get its help in nurturing the startups.

As many as 48 startups from Odisha had applied for the programme but only 12 could meet the criteria set by Google.

Odisha soon to join list of states having own 'Palace on Wheels' train

Indian Railways is all set to cash in on the tourism potential in Odisha's pristine beaches, cultural and heritage sites and charming wildlife. The eastern state may soon own a luxury train — similar to the iconic Palace on Wheels — showcasing the beauty of places like Puri, Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack and Konark to the outside world.

With this, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) is set to enter the elite league of states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka that manage luxury trains targeting overseas consumers. The ministry of railways had invited proposals from around 15 states to own tourism trains in the month of February. However, only Odisha had responded to this ambitious plan.

The plan was finalised after a meeting between the railway officials and Odisha Chief Secretary A P Padhi in Bhubaneswar in July. A team of OTDC may visit Delhi in August to finalise the model of ownership. At present, Indian railways operate five luxury trains namely Palace on Wheels, Heritage Palace on Wheels (both by Rajasthan), Deccan Odyssey (Maharashtra), Golden Chariot (Karnataka) and Maharajas’ Express (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation).

IMFA founder & industrialist Bansidhar Panda passes away at the age of 87

Dr Bansidhar Panda, the doyen of Odisha industries and father of MP Baijayant Panda, passed away at his residence in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. He was 87.

Panda, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of IMFA Group, was left his lucrative career in metallurgical research abroad in the 1960s to be an entrepreneur, responding to the call of the then chief minister Biju Patnaik.

Panda had founded IMFA (Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys) in 1961 and set up his first plant at Therubali, a backward region in undivided Koraput district. IMFA since has grown to be a leading forro alloys manufacturer in the country with multi-location facilities.

After passing out from Benaras Hindu University, Panda had left for the US in the fifties for higher studies at Michigan Technological University and Harvard University. Imbibed with the idea of transforming the lives of people and nation through application of science and technology during his stint in the US, he had set out on a mission to replicate the same in Odisha on his return.

Odisha approves Emami Paper expansion, Ambuja Cements' project

The Odisha government on Friday approved the expansion plan by Emami Paper Mills to expand its multi-layered coated board manufacturing plant at Balgopalpur in Balasore. Emami is investing Rs 650 crore on the expansion that is poised to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for 1,750 people.

Emami set up the paper manufacturing unit at Balgopalpur industrial estate in 1982 and has regularly expanded operations in the state by setting up facilities for newsprint manufacturing, paper board project based on waste paper and establishing 10.5 Mw co-generation plant.

The proposal for Emami Paper Mill's expansion was approved by the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA). Apart from Emami, the SLSWCA gave nod to set up a cement grinding unit of 1.5 million tonnes per annum by Ambuja Cements. The cement grinding plant is proposed to be set up on 125 acres land at Jharsuguda at an investment of Rs 430 crore. The project would add to Ambuja Cements existing portfolio of five integrated cement manufacturing plants and eight cement grinding units across the country. The Odisha project would generate jobs for around 300 people.

The third project that was okayed was a biscuit manufacturing unit by Surya Foods & Agro Ltd (SFAL). Known for its Priya Gold brand of biscuits, SFAL is a multi-product food processing company with manufacturing facilities in Greater Noida, Lucknow and Surat with a combined capacity of 180,000 tonnes per annum. The company's Odisha plant would have a capacity of 60,000 tonnes per annum envisaging an investment of Rs 108 crore.
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