NEW DELHI, March 23 (UPI) -- India has said McNamara International, an Irish firm, will set up a 2,000 MW power plant in southern Tamil Nadu state.
"McNamara International, an Ireland-based construction and infrastructure company, has proposed to establish a 2,000 MW power plant at Nagapattinum in Tamil Nadu with the investment of about $1.7 billion," said a Power Ministry spokesman.
The Irish company has also proposed constructing a port in the same area to import coal for the plant, The Business Standard newspaper reported Friday.
"The officials of Tamil Nadu Maritime Board and McNamara International signed an agreement for establishing the plant at Nagapattinum. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Karunanidhi was also present during the signing ceremony," said a news release issued by the state government.
It said the captive port would handle 20 million-40 million tons of coal annually and would have an elevated conveyor system to transport coal directly to the power plant.
The company said it will complete the project within three years. The system is expected to be friendly to the environment.
The statement said the project would generate jobs directly for 2,000 people and indirectly for 5,000 people.
"Such a port in such a poor locality would benefit both the captive user and existing and upcoming industries there," the statement said.
