Two months more to submit RFQ for 2640 MW Gidderbaha Thermal Power Project
GAGANDEEP AHUJA
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
PATIALA: Power plus Punjab in next 3-4 years seemed to have distant dream for Punjab and plans of Punjab's deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal have come to dashed as no power company has come forward to submit Request for Qualification(RFQ) documents for 2,640 MW Gidderbaha Thermal Power Project.

Punjab State Electricity Board has forced to extended, for the third time, the last date for the submission of RFQ for 2,640 MW Gidderbaha Thermal Power Project till April 16. PSEB had extended the last date, for the second time, from January 19 to February 16 and now extension given for two months.

Sources said here that power companies have not coming forward to set up plants as cost of thermal plants were much higher than constructing it near the coal mines.

Moreover global meltdown has prevented companies to participate in bidding process of thermal plants in Punjab.

Meanwhile Lanco Infratech, sole bidder for 1,200 MW Rajpura Thermal Plant has given warning to Punjab Government that they will prefer to leave the project if Government asked to further decrease its levelised tariff further for the Built operate and own (BOO) power project.

Sources said that Lanco Infratech has decreased 12 paisa from its quoted price Rs. 3. 36 per unit for the said project. PSEB has allotted Banawali power project to the Vedanta Group at Rs. 2.86 and giving project to Lanco at huge price has be cleared by Punjab Cabinet and it is mandatory to take clearance from Punjab State electricity regulatory commission before allotting to the company.

When contacted an official of PSEB said that they have extended the last date of RFQ by two months as they have not got the necessary approval for coal linkages for the Gidderbaha power project.

The last date for the RFQ submission was February 16 which was extended from January 19 this year. Earlier also, the PSEB had extended the date for RFQ on December 19 for a month