Salboni of West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur is poised for a significant industrial resurgence as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee prepares to lay the foundation stone for a massive 1600 MW thermal power plant on Monday.
The Rs 16,000 crore project, undertaken by JSW Energy, marks the largest private sector investment in the state’s core sector in 14 years, promising substantial economic growth and employment opportunities for the region.
The project will consist of two 800 MW power plants. The land, initially earmarked for a large steel plant by JSW Group in 2008, will finally see major industrial development. The initial steel plant project was halted due to unforeseen circumstances. The JSW Group has a cement-grinding factory at Salboni, and owns a large land bank there.
“This project signifies a new chapter for Salboni. It marks a significant step forward for West Midnapore, transforming a once-abandoned industrial site into a hub of energy production and economic activity,” said a government official.
The Chief Minister will arrive at the Jindal factory premises in Jambedia, Salboni, by helicopter, where she will personally lay the foundation stone. JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal and other key officials will accompany her. Following the ceremony, the Chief Minister will proceed to the Medinipur Circuit House for an overnight stay.
The next day, she will conduct an administrative meeting at the Medinipur College grounds, where additional projects and service delivery plans will be announced.
JSW Energy will develop the power plant in a design-build-finance-own-operate mode. The first 800 MW unit is expected to be operational within four years, with the second unit following a year later. The company secured the project through a competitive bidding process conducted by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL). Coal India Ltd will provide the coal linkage for the plant under the Shakti B(IV) scheme, facilitated by the state government.
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During the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in February, 2025, Sajjan Jindal announced plans to double the plant’s capacity in the future, with an additional investment of a similar scale. Chief Minister Banerjee also highlighted the state’s “commitment” to industrial growth, mentioning upcoming thermal power projects in Durgapur, Bakreshwar, and Santaldih, as well as the establishment of an industrial park by the Jindals in Salboni.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
