Newsline
Punjab power plus dream of Sukhjbir Badal fizzles out
GAGANDEEP AHUJA
Thursday, 19 March 2009
PATIALA: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal's dream of power plus state appears fizzling out as all the four proposed thermal power plants of 6360 MWs yet to take off and further delay can not be ruled out.

Punjab State Electricity regulatory commission (PSERC) has created road block in two power projects. PSERC in its recent order has struck off many deviations made in Power Purchase agreement (PPA) By PSEB for 2x270 MW Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Station, Goindwal Sahib (Distt. TarnTaran) with M/s GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Limited, Secunderabad(AP) on Built operate and own (BOO) basis.

Commission The schedule for Tariff shall clearly mention that the tariff will be determined by the Commission when the application for the same is received from the developer at the appropriate time.

PSEB informed commission that a captive coal mine (Tokisud North) has been allocated for GSTPS by the Ministry of Coal on the recommendation of GoP/PSEB. The fuel charges linked to coal cost are not to exceed the cost as prevailing in the PSEB’s existing Pachhwara captive coal mine. The Commission observes that the coal price of the Pachhwara coal mine determined on the basis of percentage of discounts on the Coal India Ltd. price for different categories of coal cannot automatically be adopted for another mine where geographical and other features may be different.

Sources added that Commission will not accept 1,200 MW Rajpura Thermal Plant to be allotted to Lanco Infratech quoted levelised tariff at 3.30 per unit.

1980-MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Plant has been allotted to the Sterlite power company of Vedanta Group at tariff of INR 2.86. Sterlite has yet not finalised Engineering Procurement Construction Contract (EPCC) to anybody even after seven months of its ground breaking ceremony.