ADB funds Assam power development

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$ 300 million loan to India’s northeastern Assam state for work on power generation and distribution upgrades, including the construction of a 120 MW hydropower plant.

As well as financing the planned Lower Kopili run-of-the-river hydropower plant in central Assam, ADB will also fund the replacement of aging gas turbines at the Lakwa Gas Power Plant in northern Assam.

The multitranche loan facility, which is part of a broader 10-year, US$ 3.5 billion state investment programme, will also finance new energy efficient generating equipment at existing plants, new distribution lines and substations, and financial management training and other support for staff of the state power companies, Assam Power Generation Corporation and Assam Power Distribution Company.