New Delhi, Dec 17 (Inditop.com) The Indian government Thursday signed a $303 million agreement with the World Bank for a loan to refurbish four coal-based power plants with a total capacity of 640 MW.

The project will improve the energy efficiency of select coal-fired power generation units through renovation and modernization and improved operations and maintenance, said a government statement.

“A significant co-benefit of the project is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt hour of electricity generated,” it added.

The units include one 210 MW plant of the Bandel thermal power station in West Bengal, and the Koradi thermal power plant, of similar capacity, in Maharashtra.

Another two units of 110 MW each will be taken up for the Panipat thermal power plant in Haryana.

State electricity generation companies will also get technical assistance to implement the project, which is expected to be completed by Nov 30, 2014.