NTPC to develop 300 MW solar power projects in Togo

New Delhi: The Letter of Engagement of NTPC as PMC for development about 300 MW solar power projects in Togo was handed over by Kondi Mani, Charge d' Affaire, Embassy of Togo to Gurdeep Singh, CMD (NTPC) in New Delhi on Tuesday. Minister of Power & RE RK Singh was also present at the occasion. Speaking on the occasion the minister expressed his happiness over the development and stated that the RE project offers cheaper power.

This resource must be harnessed by ISA member countries as the renewable energy (RE) makes it possible to supply electricity to people living in far-flung areas through distributed power supply model. He underlined the importance of independent regulators upon stating that under recently evolving model prepaid smart metering helps in smooth billing and collection and the governments need not invest in the projects which developers take care. NTPC had submitted a proposal to ISA requesting endorsement of ISA to Member Countries to give Project Management Consultancy (PMC) to the member Countries for implementation of Solar Projects.

Endorsement of ISA, Engagement of NTPC

As per NTPC Proposal, in ISA member countries where solar projects are implemented through competitive bidding, NTPC may act as a project management consultant (PMC). NTPC will carry out various activities for the selection of solar project developers (SPDs) on a competitive basis for setting up projects on ownership basis and enter into Power Purchase Agreement with government-designated entities.

The scope of PMC includes presentations to the concerned ministries and other stakeholders in ISA Countries for the structuring of Projects, assistance to bring out enabling policy and regulatory framework for competitive procurement of Solar Power, bid process management for a selection of Project developers on a competitive basis, structuring PPA, Roof/ Land leasing agreements etc. The PMC charges of NTPC will be recovered from the selected SPDs. NTPC based on the feasibility may also develop solar projects by putting own equity in countries where the feed-in tariff is in force.

Togo 

Togo is a country in West Africa and a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The country has set an ambitious plan to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 with focus on capacity addition in solar power generation. The West African country has taken various initiatives to achieve these targets. The country had been requesting for the assistance of ISA for solar power projects in Togo for long.