Bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) handed over project SPV “Bhadla-III Power Transmission Ltd” to Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), on August 28, 2024.
PGCIL emerged as the successful bidder, under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) process, for an interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme known as “Additional transmission system for Bhadla-III Pooling Station as part of Rajasthan REZ Phase III (20 GW)” housed under the aforementioned project SPV.
The project, to be developed under the build, own, operate & transfer (BOOT) model and envisaged for completion in 18 months, involves augmentation of the Bhadla-III Pooling Station in Rajasthan with 765/400kV, 2×1500 MVA and 400/220kV, 2×500 MVA interconnecting transformers.
The SPV was handed over by T.S.C. Bosh, CEO, RECPDCL, to Pankaj Pandey, Executive Director, PGCIL, and Satyaprakash Dash, Company Secretary, PGCIL, in the presence of senior officials of RECPDCL, PGCIL and Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL), REC, the holding company of RECPDCL, said in a release. [See photograph]
According to information available with T&D India, the Bhadla-III project is a relatively small project with envisaged outlay of Rs.368.83 crore, as estimated by National Committee on Transmission (NCT). PGCIL and Sterlite Power were the only two contenders for this scheme, it is further learnt.
The main objective of the project is to fulfill connectivity applications received at the Bhadla-III PS in Rajasthan. While the official completion date of the project is February 28, 2026 (18 months from the date of SPV transfer), efforts will be made to commission one 765/400kV ICT by June 2025 and the second such ICT by December 2025.
It may be mentioned that the two 765/400kV ICTs envisaged under this project would be the third and fourth ICTs of the stated rating at the Bhadla-III Pooling Station. The first three ICTs are coming up under another ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “Powergrid Bhadla III Transmission Ltd” that is also being developed by PGCIL. The scheme is termed as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ (20 GW) under Phase III, Part B1.”
Sixth acquisition in FY25
According to information available with T&D India, Bhadla-III represents the sixth formal ISTS-TBCB acquisition in FY25 so far, following Khavda IV-E2 Power Transmission Ltd, Rajasthan IV C Power Transmission Ltd, Rajasthan IV E Power Transmission Ltd, Sirohi Transmission Ltd and Beawar-Mandsaur Transmission Ltd.
Also read: PGCIL dominates ISTS-TBCB market with 60 per cent share
