SJVN Signs Mou With Bihar Government For 1,000 MW Hathidah Durgawati Pumped Storage Project

SJVN has entered into a significant agreement with the Government of Bihar for the development of the 1,000 MW Hathidah Durgawati Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in Bihar. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Patna, with prominent leaders present, including Sh. Vijay Kumar Sinha, the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, and Sh. Bijendra Prasad Yadav, the Minister of Energy and Planning & Development Department. Sh. Nitish Mishra, the Minister of Industries and Tourism, and Sh. Raj Kumar Chaudhary, CMD of SJVN, was also in attendance. The MoU was signed by Sh. Mukesh Kumar Sharma, General Manager of SJVN, and Smt. Bandana Preyashi, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar.

The development of PSPs in Bihar is set to bring a substantial economic boost, creating direct and indirect employment for 5,000 people and attracting an investment of around ₹10,000 crore. In August 2022, the Ministry of Power, Government of India, appointed SJVN as the nodal agency for developing Pumped Storage Projects in the state. Following this, the Government of Bihar allocated four PSPs to SJVN, including the Hathidah Durgawati PSP with a capacity of 1,000 MW, alongside other projects such as Telharkund PSP (400 MW), Sinafdar PSP (345 MW), and Panchgotia PSP (225 MW).

SJVN has conducted feasibility studies and prepared a report for the Hathidah Durgawati PSP, which is set to generate 6.325 Million Units (MU) of peak energy daily and an annual peak of 2,308.65 MU. The project will be located on the Durgawati River in the Kaimur district. With an estimated cost of ₹5,663 crore, the Hathidah Durgawati PSP is expected to have a levelized tariff of ₹9.39 per kWh, based on the pumping energy rate of ₹3 per kWh at February 2024 price levels.

Currently, SJVN is engaged in the development of approximately 12,000 MW of PSPs across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Mizoram, and Himachal Pradesh, marking a significant contribution to India’s renewable energy infrastructure.