Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 676.98 crore Tuirini small hydropower project in Aizawl district, a 24-megawatt (MW) facility aimed at strengthening the state’s energy self-sufficiency.
“The project, costing Rs 676.98 crore and funded by the New Development Bank, will strengthen Mizoram’s energy self-reliance and sustainable power generation,” CM Lalduhoma said in a post on X.
The project will be implemented as an Externally Aided Project with funding support through a loan from the New Development Bank. Of the total project cost, 80 per cent will be borne by the central government, while the remaining 20 per cent will be contributed by the Mizoram government.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone, Lalduhoma described the occasion as a significant milestone for the state and said the project is part of his government’s broader initiative to make Mizoram self-sufficient in power.
He noted that the state has already made considerable progress in the renewable energy sector, highlighting the inauguration of a 10 MW solar power plant at Thenzawl in Serchhip district in December last year.
He further informed that a 5 MW solar power plant is currently under construction at Sumsuih in Aizawl district. Both projects are fully owned by the state government, he added.
The Chief Minister said the government is stepping up efforts to reduce Mizoram’s dependence on external power sources, with two additional power projects currently in the pipeline. He informed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 132 MW Tuivai hydroelectric project in Saitual district, near the Manipur border, has already been completed. He also added that the DPR for the proposed Tlawng hydropower project near Aizawl is expected to be ready by September this year.
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He said that to further boost solar power generation, an Expression of Interest (EOI) has been issued to private developers for setting up solar plants at five locations across the state.
The chief minister also informed that 791 rooftop solar installations have been completed so far, with a total combined installed capacity of around 2.62 MW.
