Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam has been awarded 3 hydropower projects aggregating 75MW, with a scope to expand to 100MW to Hyderabad-based infrastructure development firm Madhucon Projects.

To be executed on a build, operate and transfer basis, the projects include development of the Agastyamuni, Tilwara I and Tilwara II hydropower projects with a capacity of 25MW each, in the tributary Mandakini of River Alaknanda in Rudrapryag district.

The company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange that Madhucon will be operating these projects for a period of 35 years and the detailed project reports are in the process of preparation. Madhucon, through its associate company Madhucon Sugar and Power Industries, is already operating 24MW co-generation plant near Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh.

Through its subsidiary Simhapuri Energy, it is setting up a thermal power plant of 1920MW at Tamminapatnam and Mommidi villages in Nellore district in 4 phases. Construction of Phase I of 300MW is in full swing and will be commissioned by February 2011. The financial closure for Phase-II of 300MW is in an advanced stage and will be commissioned by July 2012. While environmental clearance process for Phase-II of 660MW is under way.

This thermal power plant will be operated on imported coal and a major part of the coal will be sourced through Madhucon’s coalmine in Indonesia.