with support of Russian engineers and was successfully completed in 1971. This had a capacity to produce 1550 MW of electricity.Another power plant was initiated at Anpara in 1980. It produces 1630 MW of electricity and has proposed to extend the capacity to 2630 MW. NTPC's first thermal power plant that it started in Shaktinagar, generates 2000 MW. The plant at Bijpur generates 3000 MW.
This region has three cement factories, one of the biggest aluminum plants, a carbon plant, a chemical factory and an energy hub of India, which generates 11000 MW with plans to reach 20000 MW. The whole country is benefiting from this region, which was once full of forests and hills, which seemed like infertile land.
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Sonbhadra one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 34 districts in Uttar Pradesh currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Industry timeline
1956 : Churk Cement Factory, 800 T/day.
1961 : Rihand Dam, Pipri, 300 MW of electricity, Reservoir for power plants.
1962 : Hindalco Aluminium Plant, Renukoot, Alumina refining - 114,5000 TPA, Aluminium metal - 424,000 TPA.
1965 : Kanoria Chemicals, Renukoot, Acetaldehyde - 10000 TPA, Formaldehyde - 75000 TPA, Lindane - 875 TPA, Hexamine - 4000 TPA, Industrial Alcohol - 225 million litters/annum, Aluminium Chloride - 6875 TPA, Ethyl Acetate - 3300 TPA, Acetic Acid - 6000 TPA, Commercial Hydrogen.
1967 : Renusagar Power Plant (Hindalco), 887.2 MW of electricity.
1968 : Obra Dam, 99 MW of electricity, Reservoir for power plant.
1971 : Dala Cement Factory, 3600 T/day.
1971 : Obra Thermal Power Plant, UPSEB, 1550 MW of electricity.
1980 : Chunar Cement Factory, Ancillary unit of Dala Cement Factory.
1980 : Anpara Thermal Power Plant, UPSEB, 1630
