An increasing number of private equity (PE) firms are making a beeline for investing in the booming energy sector. These firms have made a total investment of $990 million (Rs 4,158 crore) during the first five months of 2008 in this sector compared to just two deals worth $45 (Rs 189 crore) million during the same period of 2007. The energy sector, especially power, has been witnessing a lot of interest from PE investors, said Arun Natarajan, chief executive officer (CEO), Venture Intelligence, a Chennai-based research service company focused on PE and venture capital activities. Some of the big deals between January and May 2008 include Farallon Capital, L N Mittal India and Internet Ventures' investment of $395 million in Indiabulls Power Services in February 2008. In the Konaseema Gas deal in May this year, IDFC Private Equity and Lehman Brothers invested $125 million and in the KLG Power deal, TPG Growth put in about $50 million in April.   more »