Indian conglomerate Essar Power has unveiled plans to invest $8bn setting up thermal power projects in India, over the next three years.

The investment will help increase the company’s power capacity to 8,000MW by 2014, the company said in an emailed response to the PTI.

Essar Power is also looking at opportunities in conventional and renewable power generation globally.

The company is the operator of five captive power projects which provide electricity to its various steel plants and oil refineries located in India.