Techno Electric & Engineering Company Ltd has won its second interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme, under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route.
On July 30, 2024, bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) formally handed over the project special purpose vehicle “NERGS-I Power Transmission Ltd” to Techno Electric.
The ISTS scheme is officially termed as “North Eastern Region Generation Scheme – I” or “NERGS-I” and will take shape in Assam.
Estimated to cost around Rs.214 crore, the scheme entails, among other elements, setting up of a new 400kV switching station at Bokajan in Assam. This station will be upgraded to 400/220kV level at a future date. The project will also involve putting up a LILO (loop-in, loop out) of both circuits of the 400kV double-circuit line running connecting the Misa and New Mariani substations, both owned by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.
The project is scheduled to commission by December 31, 2025, as per timelines provided in the request for proposal (RfP) document when the bidding process was initiated in November 2023.
The contenders
According to information available with T&D India, Techno Electric won the project quoting annualized tariff of Rs.303.68 million. Three other contenders were in the fray – Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, Sterlite Power and India Grid Trust (IndiGrid). The L2 bid was just 0.25 per cent higher than Techno Electric’s bid. However, it is not known as this point, which among the three other contenders was L2.
Second ISTS-TBCB project
For Techno Electric, this is the second ISTS scheme that it has won under the TBCB route, after “NERES XVI Power Transmission Ltd” that was transferred on May 30, 2024. Interestingly, both the ISTS projects of Techno Electric are being developed in northeast India.
Fourth ISTS-TBCB scheme of FY25
NERGS-I represents the fourth ISTS-TBCB scheme to be formally awarded in the current year FY25 so far. The first three are:
- Kallam Transco (IndiGrid, April 5, 2024)
- Khavda IV-E2 Power Transmission Ltd (PGCIL, May 30, 2024)
- NERES XVI Power Transmission Ltd (Techno Electric, May 30, 2024)
Schemes pending transfer
According to information available with T&D India, PGCIL has been given the letter of intent for four ISTS-TBCB schemes that have yet to be formally transferred. These project SPVs are: Sirohi Transmission Ltd; Rajasthan IV C Power Transmission Ltd; Beawar-Mandsaur Transmission Ltd; and, Rajasthan IV E Power Transmission Ltd.
Editor’s Note: NERGS-I represents the second ISTS-TBCB scheme of Techno Electric in its current portfolio. The company had at least three ISTS-TBCB schemes in the past but these schemes, after they turned operational, were eventually sold to other developers.
Featured photograph shows handling over of project SPV “NERGS-I Power Transmission Ltd” by T.S.C. Bosh, CEO, RECPDCL, to Dinesh Parikh, General Manager (Commercial), Techno Electric & Engineering Company Ltd in the presence of senior officials of RECPDCL, Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL) and Techno Electric & Engineering Company Ltd.
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