Encouraged by the success of the NTPC IPO last year, the Ministry of Power has written to the cabinet to launch an IPO for NHPC by December 2006. The ministry wants the NHPC to float 24 per cent of its equity capital. However, NHPC hopes to get at least Rs 2,600 crore from the IPO and the cash will be used to expand capacity to 5,837 MW by 2012.