Japan lends $259.86m to India for 1GW Purulia hydro project

Four reversible pump-turbine units will generate electricity and deliver water during low-consumption periods.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) agreed to loan the Government of India in Delhi $259.86m for the Construction of Turga Pumped Storage (I). JICA will provide a Japanese ODA loan.

According to JICA, the new pumped storage power plant with variable-speed equipment will be constructed in West Bengal State to increase the peak power generation capacity and to strengthen the response capability in order to improve the power supply stability.

Global Construction Review added that two dams across Turga Nala river will be constructed, and four reversible pump-turbine units, each with 250MW capacity, will generate electricity and transport water from the lower to upper dams.

A pumped storage power plant works as a large storage battery to generate power during peak demand periods and pumps from a lower dam to an upper dam during low-consumption periods such as at night. 

The project is expected to be completed in May 2027 when the pilot operation of all the power generators is complete.

Photo by Paulsubhajit - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0