Site selected for India, Bangladesh power venture

A joint technical team of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and NTPC has selected a site near the southwest Mongla Port at Khulna in Bangladesh for setting up of a proposed 1,310 MW coal based power plant as a JV between Bangladesh and India.

NTPC has suggested BPDB to engage local consultants to carry out the feasibility study on socio-environmental and ecological impact on coal fired power plant and workout coal transportation plans.

TAFE to commission Turkey plant by July

Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) is likely to start rolling out Massey Ferguson tractors from its Manisa plant in Turkey from July 2010.

The construction work on the plant had commenced in January 2010 after a delay of six to eight months. So far, almost 60 per cent of the civil engineering work has been completed. The plant is likely to manufacture 15,000 tractors per annum.

Initially, the company plans to sell the tractors in Turkey and then it will shift focus on the neighbouring countries.

BPCL, partners, discover crude oil, gas in Brazil

Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and its partners have found crude oil and natural gas in a deepwater block in Brazil's Campos Basin. About 7,500 bpd of oil and four million cubic feet per day of gas flowed from Wahoo-1 well in Anadarko Petroleum Corporation-operated BM-C- 30 block.

Anadarko is the operator of the block with 30 per cent stake while Devon Energy Corporation of US has 25 per cent interest. IBV Brazil Petroleo Limitada, a subsidiary of Brazil based JV company of Bharat PetroResources and Videocon Industries, holds a 25 per cent interest in the block. SK Energy of South Korea has the remaining 20 per cent.

GSPC in pact with Egypt for oil and gas exploration

Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) has signed an agreement with the Egypt Government for oil and gas exploration in Egypt where GSPC has been allotted blocks.

GSPC led conglomerate was recently allotted three blocks for oil and gas exploration in Egypt. GSPC holds 60 per cent stake in these blocks, while the remaining 40 per cent is with the Adani Group.

Agreement for commencing exploration activities has been inked with one block. Similar agreements for remaining two blocks are likely to be signed at a later stage. GSPC already has got two blocks in Egypt apart from three awarded recently.

Six in fray to prepare DPR for Nalco's Indonesia project

At least six companies including Engineers India (EIL), Mecon and M N Dastur & Company are in race to prepare the DPR for Nalco's $3.9 billion (approx Rs 17,300 crore) Indonesia project.

Nalco is likely to finalise the bidder by end-May 2010. The successful bidder is to submit the DPR in next 6-8 months.

Nalco is planning to begin construction work for its integrated project in Indonesia within a year and is likely to complete the facility by 2015. It has received clearance from the Indonesia Government to set up a five lakh tonne smelter and an integrated 1,250 MW power plant in the country. The company will import required alumina to run the smelter from its India operations.

Earlier, M N Dastur had conducted a feasibility study for Nalco's project which is likely to be undertaken in JV with RAK Minerals & Metals. Nalco is expected to hold up to 74 per cent stake in the venture. RAK Minerals will be responsible for building port and rail infrastructure for the project.