SEZ status offered to foreign firms producing non-conventional energy

SEZ status offered to foreign firms producing non-conventional energy

Staff Reporter

They can set up units near Chennai or at Nanguneri: Veerasamy

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Government has acquired 2, 500 acres at Nanguneri
State doing well on energy front: Minister

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Chennai: Foreign industries dealing in non-conventional energy can avail
themselves of the Special Economic (SEZ) Zone status for setting up
industrial units near Chennai, said Minister for Electricity and Rural
Industries Arcot N. Veerasamy on Saturday.

"Firms from U.S., Germany and Korea can purchase land and then seek the
SEZ status. We will grant it to them," said Mr. Veerasamy at an event to
celebrate the completion of 22 years of Solkar Solar Industry Limited.
Foreign firms looked to Tamil Nadu for setting up industrials units, as
land prices in the State were reasonable compared to Karnataka and
Andhra Pradesh. Alternatively, industries dealing in non-conventional
energy, could set up units in the Nanguneri taluk of Tirunelveli
district, Mr. Veerasamy said. A proposal for setting up a cluster of
units in the Nanguneri SEZ would soon be finalised. "We have acquired
more than 2,500 acres in Nanguneri. Industries wanting to set up units
will be supported by the Government," he added.

Solar energy in hospitals

Mr. Veerasamy said he planned to introduce solar energy in hospitals
shortly. "I have spoken to Chief Minister [M. Karunanidhi] about it. We
are discussing on how we can implement it." Tamil Nadu was doing well on
the energy front. The State generated excess electricity, which was sold
to other States. The total generation was 10,011 mega watts while the
consumption was only 8,500 mega watts. Almost 60 per cent of wind energy
being produced in the country was generated in Tamil Nadu. The State
produced 2,946 mega watts of wind energy.

A. Elangovan, Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Energy
Development Agency, urged non-conventional energy industries to make
their products affordable to the public.

Solkar Solar Industries Limited entered into a joint venture agreement
with the Singapore-based Eco Solar Technology Private Limited for
manufacture of solar panels in Singapore. The cost of the project was $4
billion (in Singapore currency).

Solkar Solar Industry launched five solar products — mobile phone
charger, lantern, torch, fan and cap — on eBay.

K.E. Ragunaathan, managing director of Solkar Solar Industry, gifted
four wind generators to select households in the tsunami-affected area
of Nagapattinam.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/18/stories/2006091810650500.htm