NHPC Ltd and Orissa’s government are set to enter into a 51:49 joint venture to set up hydropower projects in the state. The firm plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the government to develop, maintain and repair power plants. NHPC has already submitted a preliminary draft proposal to the government. In February, NHPC announced plans to set up a 51:49 JV with Orissa Hydro Power Corp. Ltd (OHPC) to set up 12 hydropower projects in Orissa with a total investment of USD 2 billion. The proposed projects include the Balijori hydropower project, the Baramul hydropower project, lower Bansadhara, the Khadago dam project, middle Kolab, the Mahanadi-Brahmani river link, the Salki hydropower project, Sindol-I, Sindol-II and Sindol-III hydropower projects, the Tel integrated project, and the Uttei Roul integrated project. Each of these projects will have a generating capacity of more than 25MW and will be financed in a debt-to-equity ratio of 70:30. Upon commissioning in 2011-12, the projects are expected to make Orissa self-sufficient in power generation. NHPC is also looking to tap into the hydropower potential of NE India by setting up projects of more than 10,000MW in the region with a total investment of USD 10 billion by 2022.