Anpara 'C' power project bidding delayed by another fortnight

Lucknow, May 22 (UNI) Anpara 'C' super thermal power project has been delayed by another fortnight, with the three interested private power companies requesting more time to submit their bids.

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation limited (UPPCL) had fixed today as the last date for submitting the bids for the 1000 mw thermal power station in Sonebhadra district.

According to official sources, now June six has been fixed by the UPPCL for submitting the bids.

The three private companies -- Reliance Energy generation Ltd, Essar Power Ltd and Lanco Kundapalli Power Pvt Ltd -- have sought time as they were not ready for the bid as of now. In the bidding process, these companies would be required to deposit Rs 3 crore each as earnest money along with the documents.

The project is hanging in balance for more than a decade. In 2003, the state government had initiated the process for implementation of the project in private sector which was strongly opposed by the power employees.

Meanwhile, the state government has approached the Japanese government was a loan of Rs 5500 crore for setting up 1000 mw Anpara 'D' thermal power project.

UPPCL managing director Avneesh Awasthi said here that the state government is moving ahead for setting up 2 X 500 Anpara 'D', thermal power unit. He said the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment has granted the clearance for the project and the NTPC has been entrusted with the task of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

For finding a private entrepreneur, the UP Power Generation Corporation Ltd had floated the global tenders for the award of the Anpara 'C', project in November 2004.

The bidders were asked to submit the Request for Qualification (RFQ) by December 1, 2004. The task force on energy headed by the state chief secretary had approved the RFQ on March 14, 2005.

The state government on April 2005 had cleared the RFQ submitted by the eight companies and these companies were asked to submit the Request for proposal (RFP). The last date for buying the 400 page RFP document costing Rs 10 Lakh, was May 10, 2005 and only three companies turned up. The power regulator UP State Electricity Regulatory Commission also granted its approval to the RFP document in March last.

The approved RFP document has been handed over to all the three bidders in the fray for the Anpara 'C' project. Financial closure for the Anpara C thermal project is likely to be initiated as soon as the contract is awarded. The successful bidder would be required to commission the power project in next 48 months from the date of the award of the contract.

The successful bidder for the Anpara C thermal project would be given 80-acre land on lease for next 30 years at the annual lease rent of Rs 100 per acre. Two thermal units Anpara A and Anpara B are already in operation since 1993, generating 1,560 MW. The Anpara C promoter would have the benefit of common facilities like coal washer, coal handling plant and water reservoir.

Five power distribution companies, all subsidiaries of the state run power utility UP Power corporation Limited, would sign separate Escrow account agreement with the power generator and purchase the entire 1,000 MW generated by the Anpara 'C'. Power companies had demanded government's guarantee for the project that was rejected and were instead, offered 'Escrow account cover'.

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