Haldia in West Bengal is going to get the world's very first integrated solar power complex and its construction is expected to begin soon, informed Industry Minister, Mr Nirupam Sen on Thursday, August 21. The minister further added that the state government has selected a 200 acre plot for the solar power complex and that the work will start after monsoon.  

An expenditure of about Rs 5,500 Crore will be incurred on this Haldia project. Jyoti Poddar, MD of Bhaskar Silicon Ltd, said, 'The project will initially produce poly-silicons and other raw materials used to produce solar cells which would be capable of producing 250 MW of solar plant.' Poddar added that the solar power project will also produce semi-conductors for the IT industry later on.

'Commercial production is to begin from 2009/10,' informed Poddar.  German Photovoltic company Centrotherm, Srei Infrastructure Finance, West Bengal Green Power Corporation and a US-based firm are others who will collaborate for this project. A total of 800 acre will be needed for this solar project, of which 200 acres has already been acquired, informed Jyoti Poddar.