International consortium proposes to build power plant in Telangana

DUBAI: A Saudi-American-Chinese consortium has proposed to build a coal-fired power plant in Telangana at a cost of around $ 3-4.5 billion.

Saudi businessman Faiz Al-Abideen, who leads the consortium, presented a letter of commitment to Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali who was in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj, a media report said.

Ali welcomed the proposal and said his government's top priority is to attract foreign direct investment from abroad, especially Saudi Arabia and will discuss the proposal with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the Arab news reported.

"I came here little knowing that I will go back with this concrete proposal from Saudi Arabia. We will have to discuss its feasibility with the Environment Ministry and other relevant government departments," Ali said.

The group has built 17 power plants in Saudi Arabia and abroad, including Turkey.

"We have huge experience in power plants and will wait for the response from the Telangana government," Abideen said.

"It will generate between 2,500 and 3,500 megawatts and utilise coal that is said to be found in abundance in the state's Khammam district," he said.

The cost of the plant is expected to be around $ 3-4.5 billion.