Three bidders are in the fray for a major interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme in Rajasthan, under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism.
It is reliably learnt that Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) along with private developers Sterlite Power and Tata Power, have qualified to put in their final bids for an ISTS-TBCB scheme in Rajasthan, formally called “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ Phase-IV (Part 2: 5.5 GW) Jaisalmer/Barmer Complex Part D”.
Bid process coordinator PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) is expected to announce the winning bidder, after the e-reverse auction stage, in the coming weeks. The project SPV “Beawar-Mandsaur Transmission Ltd,” currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFCCL will be eventually transferred to the successful bidder.
This scheme is part of an overall project “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ Phase-IV (Part 2: 5.5 GW) Jaisalmer/Barmer Complex” that is being implemented under various components denoted as Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D, Part E, Part F (combining F1 & F2), Part G, Part H1 and Part H2.
The entire scheme is expected to cost around Rs.20,200 crore and will be implemented predominantly under the TBCB route. Part G has been deferred pending Supreme Court’s decision on the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) issue. This relatively small component, costing around Rs.132 crore, involves augmentation of the Fatehgarh-II Pooling Station in Rajasthan.
Part H2, a very small component, will be developed under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) route by Bhopal Dhule Transmission Company Ltd, owned by India Grid Trust (IndiGrid). The project involves minor augmentation work on the 765kV Bhopal-Dhule line.
Bidding for all the TBCB components is very much in progress. According to information available with T&D India, PGCIL, Sterlite Power, Adani Energy Solutions and Apraava Energy have qualified for Part A. For Part B, the same developers, except Apraava Energy, have qualified.
For Part C and Part E, PGCIL has been issued the letter of intent by bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL).
For Part F, it is learnt that the bidding process has concluded but PFCCL has yet to formally announce the winners. For Part H1, the successful bidder is scheduled to be announced on May 19, 2024. There is currently no information on which bidders have qualified to put in their final price bids for Part F and Part H1. (See table)
Evacuation of further 3.5 GW
It may be mentioned that National Committee on Transmission (NCT) is deliberating on an extended scheme called “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Fatehgarh/Barmer complex as part of Rajasthan REZ Phase IV (Part 4: 3.5GW),” expected to cost around Rs.12,000 crore. In conjunction with the “Part 2: 5.5 GW” scheme discussed in this story, “Part 4” will create infrastructure for evacuation of 9 GW (3.5 GW + 5.5 GW) from Fatehgarh and Barmer pooling stations.
Also read: Three ISTS Projects Awarded To PGCIL Under RTM Route
Featured photograph (source: Rays Power Infra) is for representation only.
