During the first quarter (April to June) of the ongoing fiscal year FY23, two new interstate transmission schemes were awarded under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route, while none were completed during the same period.
Based on official documents released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a study by T&D India indicates that two new interstate transmission scheme (ISTS) projects were awarded under the TBCB modality during the first quarter (Q1) of FY23. In the same period, there were no completions.
Of the two projects, while one was clinched by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), the other went to a relatively new entrant, ReNew Transmission Ventures Pvt Ltd.
PGCIL won the transmission scheme officially termed as “Transmission system associated with LTA applications from Rajasthan SEZ Part-G, Phase II”. This project, estimated to cost around Rs.1,666 crore, is being developed by project SPV “Khetri Narela Transmission Ltd.”. (It may be noted that the project SPV name might undergo a change in name, its newly acquired ownership by PGCIL.)
The major component of this project is the 765kV double-circuit line running 170 km from Khetri to Narela, in Rajasthan. According to information available, the EPC contract of this line has been placed on Transrail Lighting Ltd, and the transmission line, currently in its early stages, is likely to commission by November 2023.
Regarding the second TBCB project awarded in Q1 of FY23, ReNew Transmission Ventures landed the “Transmission Scheme for Solar Energy Zone in Gadag (1,000 mw), Karnataka – Part-A, Phase-I,” housed under project SPV “Gadag Transmission Ltd.”Estimated to cost around Rs.350 crore and with an envisaged completion schedule of September 2023, this project is part of an overall scheme seeking to provide ISTS-based evacuation infrastructure to 2.5 GW of upcoming solar power capacity at Gadag in Karnataka.
For ReNew Transmission, this is the second TBCB project. In December 2021, it had won a project for establishing transmission connectivity to upcoming wind energy zones in Koppal in Karnataka, incorporated under the project SPV “Koppal Narendra Transmission Ltd.”
Also read: PGCIL Receives Letter Of Intent For Khetri-Narela TBCB Transmission Project
Overall status
As of June 30, 2022, there were 66 interstate TBCB projects, out of which 38 were commissioned and 24 were under various stages of implementation. The remaining four were inactive for reasons that included scrapping of project by CERC, litigation, etc.
PGCIL led the developer base with 22 projects including 13 completed and 8 under construction. One project “Powergrid Vemagiri Transmission Ltd”, acquired by PGCIL way back in 2012, was cancelled by CERC in 2015. However, it is learnt that the power generator (GMR Group) has challenged the cancellation and the legal outcome is still awaited.
Featured photograph for representation only
