Kohima-Mariani Transmission Ltd (KMTL), a special purpose vehicle majorly owned by Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (KPTL), has fully completed the North Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme (NERSS-VI).
In a stock exchange filing, KPTL announced that KMTL has commissioned the second element of NERSS-VI, rendering the project fully commissioned.
NERSS-VI has the three broad elements:
- New 400/220kV substation at Kohima
- 400kV double-circuit Imphal – New Kohima line (136 km)
- 400kV double-circuit New Kohima – Mariani line (118 km)
(Note: Lengths of the two lines have been presented in “km”. In terms of “circuit km” or “ckm”, the length will be roughly twice, as both lines are double-circuit. “New Kohima” represents the location of the new substation at Kohima. Kohima is the capital city of Nagaland, while Imphal is that of Manipur. Mariani is located in Assam.)
Element-1 and Element-3 were commissioned by KMTL in July 2020. Element-2, now commissioned, was also scheduled to complete in July 2020. However, according to information available from Central Electricity Authority, project implementation was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic breakout. Besides, frequent rains at the project site areas made working difficult and risky.
Kohima Mariani Transmission Ltd is a joint venture owned by KPTL (equity stake: 74 per cent) and Techno Electric & Engineering Company Ltd (26 per cent). It may be noted that KPTL has entered into definitive agreements for the sale of KMTL to CLP India.
KMTL was set up to implement NERSS-VI on build-own-operate-maintain (BOOM) basis. KMTL won the project under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mode. The bid process coordinator was PFC Consulting Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation Ltd. The SPV was acquired in March 2017 and the EPC contracts were awarded by June in the same year.
Commenting on the project completion, Manish Mohnot, MD & CEO, KPTL said, “We are pleased to announce the complete commissioning of the KMTL Transmission Asset. In line with our business plan, we will now swiftly proceed towards the divestment phase of KMTL. This asset has already been divested to CLP India and the process of transaction closure will be completed soon. The successful implementation and divestment of T&D assets reinforces, complements and accelerates KPTL’s strategy to drive future growth in the core EPC business and enhance shareholder value.”
KPTL intends to divest its power T&D assets and focus on its core EPC business. Click here for background story.
Project Background
NERSS-VI is part of an overall package to improve power transmission in the north-eastern region (NER). The expansion of 400kV network in NER is planned through new 400kV lines and upgradation of existing 400kV lines presently charged at 132kV to its rated voltage of 400kV. A 400kV ring is being established in Assam and Megahlaya connecting Silchar– Misa–Balipara–Bongaigaon–Azara/Byrnihat-Silchar substations. Another 400kV ring is being established interconnecting Assma and Tripura through Silchar–Palatana–Surajmaninagar–P. K. Bari–Silchar corridor.
NERSS-VI will form the Imphal – New Kohima – New Mariani section of the Silchar- Imphal –New Kohima–New Mariani–Misa–Silchar 400kV ring, along with establishment of a new 400/200kV substation at New Kohima.
