Reported by Sandeep Sharma
Guwahati: In a major push to India’s renewable energy ambitions, the Arunachal Pradesh government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Greenko Demwe Power Limited for the implementation of the 1,750 MW Demwe Lower Hydroelectric Project in Lohit district.
The project will be developed on a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) basis and is being described as one of the largest hydropower collaborations involving a private developer in Arunachal Pradesh.
The agreement was signed between the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and Greenko Demwe Power Limited, formerly known as Athena Demwe Power Limited, for execution of the project near Parasuram Kund and Brahma Kund on the Lohit River.
Joint Secretary (Hydropower) Hage Lailang signed the agreement on behalf of the state government in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge of Hydropower Chowna Mein and Commissioner (Hydropower) Sonam Chombay.
The project is part of the Government of India’s 50,000 MW Hydroelectric Initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s renewable energy capacity.
Arunachal Pradesh, known for its vast hydropower potential, is expected to play a key role in meeting India’s long-term clean energy targets.
The Demwe Lower Hydroelectric Project will have an installed capacity of 1,750 MW with five generating units of 342 MW each and one additional unit of 40 MW. According to official estimates, the project is expected to generate around 7,326 million units of electricity annually in a 90 per cent dependable year at 95 per cent plant availability.
The project site in Lohit district has connectivity through Dibrugarh Airport, Tinsukia railway station, and road links from Parasuram Kund.
Officials said the project will involve major engineering works, including the construction of a concrete gravity dam with a maximum height of 163.12 metres and a crest length of 474.35 metres.
The reservoir will have a storage capacity of 516.38 million cubic metres, with a water spread area of around 1,131 hectares. The design also includes a spillway system with multiple gates for flood management.
The project infrastructure will include six diversion tunnels, underground pressure shafts, and a large surface powerhouse on the right bank of the Lohit River. The powerhouse is planned with vertical Francis turbines operating at a design head of 112 metres.
Officials said the project is expected to generate employment opportunities, improve connectivity, and boost economic activity in the region during both the construction and operational phases.
The Arunachal Pradesh government stated that emphasis would be placed on environmentally responsible and sustainable hydropower development while ensuring that local communities benefit from the project.
The government also expressed confidence that the Demwe Lower Hydroelectric Project would emerge as a major clean energy project for the country and a significant milestone in Arunachal Pradesh’s infrastructure and development journey.