Mumbai: The centre has proposed setting up a special economic zone for the manufacture of renewable energy device, at a proposed investment of Rs30,000-crore.

This was disclosed by Vilas Muttemwar, union minister of state in charge of non-conventional energy, who said that the 1,000-acre SEZ would also generate 600 MW of renewable energy for captive purposes.

Though its location has yet to be decided the construction work for which is expected to commence within six months, the minister added.

The minister also said that the union government was negotiating with developers for the proposed SEZ., he added. A few overseas companies have also expressed their interest in the SEZ, the minister said, addi ng that it will be built on PPP basis.

According to the minister, six states — Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh — had shown an interest in setting up the SEZ.