Lalduhoma laid the foundation stone for the Tuirini small hydro power project in Aizawl district, marking a significant step in Mizoram’s drive towards energy self-sufficiency. The project involves an investment of around Rs 6.77 billion and will have a generation capacity of 24 megawatts, according to officials. The Tuirini project will be implemented as an externally aided initiative, funded through a loan from the New Development Bank. Under the funding structure, 80 per cent of the project cost will be borne by the Centre, while the remaining 20 per cent will be contributed by the state government. The project is expected to be completed within five years. Addressing the event, Lalduhoma described the project as a milestone in the state’s efforts to achieve power self-reliance. He highlighted that Mizoram has been accelerating investments in renewable energy, including the inauguration of a 10 MW solar power plant in Serchhip district in December last year and the ongoing construction of a 5 MW solar plant at Sumsuih in Aizawl district. Both projects are fully owned by the state government. The Chief Minister said that two additional power projects are in the pipeline. The detailed project report for the 132 MW Tuivai hydroelectric project in Saitual district near the Manipur border has been completed, while the report for the Tlawng hydro project near Aizawl is expected to be finalised by September this year. To further expand solar capacity, the state has issued an expression of interest to private developers for setting up solar plants at five locations across Mizoram. As of now, 791 rooftop solar installations have been completed, with a combined installed capacity of about 2.62 MW. A pump storage project is also being planned on the Tuichang river near the Vankal solar park in Khawzawl district, designed to store energy during low-demand periods and generate power during peak demand. Lalduhoma noted that Mizoram has long-term power purchase agreements with central generating stations, even though it is not yet fully self-sufficient in power generation. Surplus power available during certain periods is traded, enabling the state to generate additional revenue. He said timely payment of power bills has allowed the state to earn rebates worth about Rs 65.7 million. According to the Chief Minister, Mizoram has generated around Rs 1.72 billion in revenue from power trading, with a net profit of Rs 0.87 billion. The overall financial gain from timely bill payments and power trading stands at approximately Rs 0.94 billion. The Tuirini project, along with ongoing solar and hydro initiatives, reflects Mizoram’s strategy to strengthen renewable energy capacity, reduce dependence on external power sources and enhance long-term energy security.