Global invite for 4 X 660 thermal power project

Patiala, Sep 12: Global invitation for Expression of interest (EOI) has been called for Selection of Developer for Setting up of a Coal based Thermal Power Project with a capacity of 4 X 660 MW at Gidderbaha in Muktsar district.

Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has launched an initiative for development of a Rs 3,000 crore coal-based Environment-friendly Thermal Power Project (TPP) at village Ghaga, Tehsil Gidderbaha with a capacity of 4 X 660 MW.

An official spokesman said that the Project will be awarded to a Developer selected on the basis of Tariff based competitive bidding on the guidelines and Standard Bid Documents issued by Ministry of Power, Govt. of India on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis for duration of 25 years.

The bidders' conference will be held on October 1 at Chandigarh, he said.

The applicant may be a single entity or a multiple entity consortium coming together to implement the project and have technical and financial expertise of developing equal size of large projects (not necessarily in the power sector), in the last 10 years, whose aggregate capital costs must not be less than Rs 19.80 billion or US dollar equivalent. Out of which at least one project should be equivalent or more than Rs 3.30 billion.

The official said that the first unit of 660 MW was scheduled for commissioning before March 31, 2013 and the other three units of 660 me each would have to be commissioned in a gap of 4 months each. According to spokesman PSEB is currently in the process of acquiring about 2,430 acres of land. The Punjab government has already given water linkage from Bhakra Nangal canal.

The official said that PSEB had applied to the Centre for about 12.8 million tonnes per annum of coal. He said that ''We have also applied for a permanent coal block of about 400 million tonnes, so that the developer can run the plant without interruption.'' The official said that a special purpose vehicle Gidderbaha Power limited (GPL) wholly owned by PSEB will be the nodal agency for implementing the project. PFC Consultants is the consultant for the project. After completion of the project, GPL will cease to exist as an SPV.

UNI