The “Committee of Directors on Investment on Projects” of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), in a meeting on November 22, 2023, accorded investment approval to two projects with an aggregate outlay of Rs.367.10 crore.
The details of the two projects are as follows:
Project: Augmentation of transformation capacity by 1×1,500 MVA (3rd), 765/400kV ICT at Maheshwaram (PG) substation
Location: Telangana
Cost: Rs.142.69 crore
Gestation period: 21 months
Envisaged completion date: April 9, 2025
Project: Transmission System for evacuation of power from potential RE zone in Khavda area of Gujarat under Phase IV (7 GW) – Part E4
Location: Gujarat
Cost: Rs.224.41 crore
Gestation period: 24 months
Envisaged completion date: July 9, 2025
These projects were recently recommended by National Committee on Transmission (NCT) for implementation by PGCIL under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) route.
It may be mentioned that Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL) is empowered to autonomously approve projects costing Rs.100 crore. For projects costing between Rs.100 crore and Rs.500 crore, NCT is clearing agency. Projects costing above Rs.500 crore are recommended by NCT to Union power ministry for final clearance. In this context, “clearance” also entails mode of implementation – whether TBCB or RTM.
Khavda Phase IV
The second project discussed above [Khavda Phase IV (7 GW) Part E4] involves augmentation of transformation capacity at PGCIL’s existing 765/400kV Padghe GIS substation by 1,500 MVA through the addition of a 1,500 MVA, 765/400kV interconnecting transformer (ICT), the fourth at the substation.
It may be mentioned the overall scheme for evacuation of 7 GW under Khavda Phase IV is a massive project costing over Rs.19,000 crore. For practicality of implementation, this project has been divided into eight components – Part A, B, C, D, E1, E2, E3 and E4. Five of these parts – A, B, C, D and E2 – are being implemented on TBCB modality, while the remaining three – E1, E3 and E4 – are on the RTM route.
Part E1 has been assigned to KPS1 Transmission Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Energy Solutions) while Part E3 will be implemented by KPS3 Transmission Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of PGCIL). As discussed in this story, Part E4 has been assigned to PGCIL on RTM basis. It may be noted that KPS1 Transmission Ltd and KPS3 Transmission Ltd are in turn developing related interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes under the TBCB route.
Also read: PGCIL Estimates Work-In-Hand Worth Over Rs.50,000 Crore
Featured photograph (source: Godrej) is for representation only.
