LONDON, Sept 30: The Maharashtra Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two major American energy multinationals, Enron Corporation and Universal Electricals for the upgradation and modernisation of gas-based Uran and Nashik and Bhuvsal Karodi thermal power projects.The deals were firmed up during the recent World Energy Congress at Houston in the US, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, who made a stopover here on his way back after attending the meeting, told PTI.
Describing the deals as ``a major breakthrough for the state,'' Munde said enhanced power generation in Maharashtra would pave the way for expansion of infrastructure and intensive industrialisation.
Under the MoU with Enron, the US company would make up for the shortfall in LPG supply from Bombay High for the Uran project.
Universal electricals has been awarded the contract for expansion and upgradation of the Nashik and bhuvsal karodi thermal projects which currently were working with a plant loadfactor of only 50 per cent of the installed 250 mw capacity, Munde said.
The Uran upgradation and supply of LPG would be the second major project for Enron in Maharashtra. The US multinational is already building India's biggest 2,450 mw power plant at Dabhol at an investment of over $2.5 billion.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.