Lanco pips Reliance and Essar for Anpara 'C' power project

Lucknow, June 9 (UNI) In a major step towards privatisation of power sector in Uttar Pradesh, a high-power committee evaluating bids for setting up the mega Anpara 'C' super thermal power project today decided in favour of Hyderabad-based power giant Lanco Kundapalli -- eliminating Reliance Energy and Essar Power from the contention.

The five-member Request for Proposal (RFP) evaluation committee headed by principal secretary (Energy) Ashok Kumar Khurana found Lanco's bid the lowest -- hence recommended its name for the coveted project.

The committee also comprised UP Power Corporation Limited MD Avnish Awasthi, Secretary (finance) Shivanand Giri, Director UP Utapadan Nigam S K Agarwal and S K Thakur, Director Central Electricity Authority,(CEA).

Anpara 'C' project, which has already generated heat among UP power employees, who opposed the privatisation move right from the start, is now set to fall in Lanco's lap for setting up 1,000 Megawatt (Mw) unit and selling power at the rate given in its bid.

Lanco had quoted a rate of Rs 1.91 per unit compared to higher quotation of Rs 2.17 per unit and Rs 2.79 per unit by Reliance Energy and Essar Power respectively, highly placed sources told UNI here.

The Committee has recommended the government to start process for issuance of letter of acceptence in the favour of Lanco Kundapalli.

Only three private companies -- Reliance Energy, Essar Power (Mumbai) and Lanco Kundapalli Power Private Company (Hyderabad) -- had given bids for the 500x2 Mw new power station -- Anpara C power project.

Earlier, the bids were evaluated by Ernst and Young Consultants and today's decision was taken after studying their report.

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