Press Release

New Delhi, November 2, 2018: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an agreement with the Government of India to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of 29,442 million Japanese Yen (approximately INR 1,800 Crore) for the first tranche of the Project for the Construction of Turga Pumped Storage at Purulia District in West Bengal.

The objective of the Project is to strengthen the "response capacity of power supply"^[1] , with respect to demand fluctuation by constructing pumped storage power facilities, thereby contributing to the industrial development and living standard improvement in West Bengal.

The ODA loan agreement was signed between Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India and Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India.

The Project will have an installed capacity of 4×250 MW. The Turga Pumped Storage Plant consists of two reservoirs at two different levels and a water conductor system, which connects the two reservoirs through an underground powerhouse. During peak hours, power will be generated by depleting the water reserve of the upper reservoir which will pass through the waterway and the generator and turbines installed at the powerhouse, to be stored in the lower reservoir. The excess power will be fed back to pump the water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir through the powerhouse. One of the main components of the Project is to install 2 variable speed pump turbines and together with the other 2 of fixed speed pump turbines. The variable speed pump turbines can provide frequency control function both during generation and pumping operation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India said, "Under the Government of India's announcement of "175 GW renewable initiatives" in 2014, which set the target of generation from renewable energy at 175 GW by 2022, each State has allocated their target installation amount of renewable energy power, and the target for West Bengal State is set as 5,386MW. With the higher installation of renewable energy, it may bring a certain level of difficulties in securing the stability of power supply because present practice of real time unbalance management may not be sufficient for handling large scale uncertainty in renewable power. In this regard, power supply sources which can offer ancillary services to the power system, such as pumped storage power, can contribute to improving the power supply stability in such circumstances. Further, variable speed pumped storage power plant is an advanced technology which can be operated at lower output than the conventional pumped storage systems and have wider output power adjustment range between its minimum to maximum output".

The Executing Agency of the Projects is West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL).

JICA has continuously worked to help develop electricity infrastructure in West Bengal. JICA has extended ODA loans for Bakreswar Thermal Power Station Project, Teesta Canal Hydroelectric Project, Kolaghat Thermal Power Station Fly-ash Utilization Project (E/S) and Purulia Pumped Storage Project. JICA has extended 296,376 million Japanese Yen (approximately INR 19,000 crore) in ODA loans since 1983 for all-round development in West Bengal.

Lower Dam Site for Turga Pumped Storage Power Plant

L-R: Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India with Dr. C. S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, DEA during the L/A Signing ceremony

About JICA

Established by a specific law as an incorporated administrative institution under the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to promote international cooperation as the sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency. JICA works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, and provides assistance in the form of loans, grants and technical cooperation, so that the emerging countries can strengthen their capabilities.

For further information, please contact:

JICA India Office
Yukari Inagaki/Vini Sharma
+91 11 49097000
inagaki.yukari@jica.go.jp
sharmavini.id@jica.go.jp