DECEMBER 20239TOP STORIESCOCA COLA COMPANY TO INVEST RS.3000 CRORE VIA FDI FOR NEW FACILITYThe Coca-Cola Company will invest Rs 3,000 crore to set up a beverage base and plant in Sanand, Gujarat. American multinational The Coca-Cola Company plans to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) through its subsidiary International Refreshments (India) Private Limited (IRIPL), TOI reported on Dec 8. The state government has allotted 1.6 Lakh square meters of land (SM-52) in Sanand-II Industrial Estate for the factory. Government sources confirmed that the approval process has been expedited, reflecting the company's commitment to invest in Gujarat.Coca-Cola has made two major investments through its bottling partners in Gujarat. The government did not take long to give the go-ahead to the company. TOI quoted a senior government official.Previously, the company has invested significantly in Gujarat through its bottling partner, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Limited.The new plant in Sanand is expected to be fully automated, incorporating robotic technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and machine-learning devices for real-time monitoring and control of manufacturing processes. Additionally, automated storage and retrieval systems will enhance efficiency.According to the TOI report, during the construction phase, the company plans to employ around 1,000 individuals, comprising both skilled and unskilled workers. Once operational, the plant is anticipated to provide jobs for approximately 400 individuals in operational and engineering roles, focusing on gender diversity. MAHANADI COALFIELDS TO EXPAND ITS THERMAL POWER CAPACITY BY 2400MWMahanadi Coalfields Ltd, a subsidiary of Coal India, may expand its upcoming thermal power plant in Odisha's Sundargarh district by 2400 MW in phase-II, bringing the unit's total capacity to 4,000 MW. The first phase of the project, totaling 1,600 MW, is expected to begin construction in the coming fiscal year and be completed in 2028.According to people familiar with the situation, the land for the project was previously allotted for the Bedabahal ultra mega power project of 4,000 MW, which was eventually scrapped. MCL then purchased the land from PFC Consulting Ltd after no other thermal generating company expressed interest, according to the company."There is definitely a demand for the project. Interest for almost 3200 MW has been received so far. But the company may first look to complete phase-I," said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.The government is pushing for thermal capacity additions after a long pause, as the country's demand has risen sharply and is expected to rise further in the future. Thermal energy was written off prematurely a few years ago, according to power minister RK Singh in November. He had stated that thermal cannot be written off until energy storage becomes viable.Thermal power will remain until energy storage becomes cost-effective for round-the-clock supply via renewable energy, according to the minister. Non-solar hours will be a serious challenge, he said, given rising power demand and weather events like the one in August this year.
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