Madhya Pradesh is planning to adopt the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism for an evacuation scheme associated with the power plant of Mahan Energen Ltd.
Speaking to T&D India, a senior official of Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Ltd (MPPTCL) said that the utility is exploring the possibility of building the transmission infrastructure associated with the Singrauli thermal power plant of Mahan Energen, using the TBCB mode.
The official said that discussions are on with REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) and PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) to act as the bid process coordinator (BPC) for the proposed intrastate transmission scheme. The BPC is expected to finalized in the coming weeks.
Mahan Energen Ltd (MEL), a subsidiary of Adani Power Ltd, has an operational 1,200-MW thermal power plant at Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, with two coal-fired units of 600-MW each. MEL has proposed to augment capacity by 1,600 MW by adding two supercritical units of 800-MW each.
Fourth case of TBCB
For Madhya Pradesh, this would potentially be the fourth instance of deploying the TBCB philosophy for development of its intrastate grid.
The MPPTCL official explained that the first TBCB project was the Bhind-Guna transmission scheme that was developed by Powergrid Bhind Guna Transmission Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). The transmission scheme involving construction of two 400kV substations – Bhind and Guna – and associated lines, was commissioned in October 2022.
Subsequently, Madhya Pradesh deployed the TBCB route for two more intrastate schemes housed under “MP Power Transmission Package-I Ltd” and “MP Power Transmission Package-II Ltd.” These two projects have been respectively awarded to Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd and Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (then known as Adani Transmission Ltd), and are both under construction.
Package-II was awarded to the successful bidder in November 2021, followed by Package-I in January 2023.
Both these projects are likely to be commissioned this year, albeit with some time overrun. Together these two projects are expected to add 35 substations with total transformation capacity exceeding 6,300 MVA, as well as nearly 2,000 ckm of transmission lines. In fact, “Package-I” envisages what would be the first 400kV GIS substation in Madhya Pradesh, coming up at Mandideep.
The MPPTCL official also noted that for all the three TBCB schemes so far, RECPDCL was appointed as the bid process coordinator.
Also read: Madhya Pradesh Signs TSA With Megha Engineering For TBCB Project
Featured photograph showing substation of MPPTCL at Nagda is for representation only.
