Bengal power minister Aroop Biswas on Friday said that the state has plans to add around 4,100MW across both thermal and renewable energy sources.

“Bengal today has an available capacity of around 9,500MW. Another 4,100MW shall be added in the near future,” the minister said at an event organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

The minister outlined a few projects where the state is looking to add generation capacity. This includes a 1,000 MW pump storage project at Turga in addition to the existing 900 MW project at Ajodhya Pahar in Purulia. Around 195 MW of floating and ground mounted solar projects are being planned at various locations in the state.

The state is also planning to add a 700 MW solar project at Mukutmanipur and 500 MW project at Bakreshar dam besides other projects in the solar space. A green hydrogen plant is also being set up by DPL and it is expected to be operational this year as a pilot project.

On the thermal side, a 660 MW supercritical plant is under construction at Sagardighi. The state is also looking to become self-sufficient in meeting its coal requirement.

“We have planned to go for a major upgradation for environmental reasons in Kolaghat and Bandel thermal power stations also,” the minister said.

“In the financial year 2021-22, production from WBPDCL captive mines was almost 70 per cent of the total coal requirement.

“In 2022-23, it has achieved production of 18.7 mt which is now 75 per cent of the requirement. Bengal will be self-sufficient in coal,” he said.