Four bidders have qualified for opening of price bids for an interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme involving evacuation infrastructure for upcoming hydropower projects in UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
It is reliably learnt that Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL), Sterlite Power and IndiGrid have qualified for opening of initial price bids for developing an ISTS scheme called “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Ratle HEP (850 MW) and Kiru HEP (624 MW): Part A.”
Estimated to cost Rs.1,214 crore, this ISTS-TBCB scheme will develop transmission infrastructure spread over UT of J&K and Punjab, seeking to provide ISTS connectivity to the upcoming Ratle and Kiru hydropower projects on River Chenab in Kishtwar district of UT of J&K.
The scheme will utilize the existing substations like Kishtwar (owned by Sterlite Power), Samba and Kishengarh (both owned by PGCIL). A major element of the scheme would be the 400kV double-circuit (quad) line from Samba to Jalandhar, running 145 km.
The project is housed under “Ratle Kiru Power Transmission Ltd,” currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL), incorporated on October 23, 2024.
By current timelines, RECPDCL expects to transfer the project SPV to the winning developer by February 3, 2025.
Part B on RTM basis
The aforementioned scheme also has a related component known as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Ratle HEP (850 MW) and Kiru HEP (624 MW): Part B.”
The developer selected for Part A, under the TBCB mode, will be the implementing agency for Part B, under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) route.
With an estimated cost of Rs.196 crore, Part B, among other elements, aims to reconductor the existing 400kV Kishenpur-Kishtwar line with twin HTLS (high temperature low sag) conductor.
The 850-mw Ratle and the 624-mw Kiru hydropower projects are being implemented by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd and Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd, respectively. Both these entities are joint ventures between NHPC Ltd (majority shareholder) and Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd.
Reorganization of Sterlite Power
The entity referred to as “Sterlite Power” in this story stands for the power transmission development business of erstwhile “Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd.” In October 2024, the infrastructure business (that includes power transmission development business in India) of Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd was demerged into a new entity called “Sterlite Grid 5 Ltd.” In January this year, Sterlite Grid 5 Ltd entered into a joint venture agreement GIC of Singapore following which Sterlite Grid 5 Ltd would execute all its transmission projects in India through a new entity/platform called “Sterlite Grid 32 Ltd.” It is now learnt that “Sterlite Grid 32 Ltd” has been renamed to “Resonia Ltd.”
Als read: Four qualify for twin Bikaner ISTS-TBCB schemes in Rajasthan
Featured photograph (source: cvvppindia.com) shows physical progress, as of December 2024, on the powerhouse of Kiru HEP.
