Bidding for Sipat power project delayed again

The previous deadline expired on July 25. This was the second time in this financial year and the fifth time in a row that the project's tendering process was postponed, since bids were first called in June 2001.

Sipat is the first power project in the country to be executed using the energy-efficient 660 mega-watt super critical technology and marks a change from the 500 mega-watt technology used in such projects so far.

NTPC did not receive any bids for the first phase of the project, for which the earlier deadline had been March 28.

The lack of response from equipment suppliers forced NTPC to reduce the four 660 mega-watt units earlier planned for the first phase to three 660 mega-watt units.

Moreover, the company reverted to the 500 mega-watt technology for the second phase of the Sipat project, which was originally scheduled to be executed using the 660 mega-watt technology.

Instead of having one 660 mega-watt units in the second phase, the company planned to have two 500 mega-watt units.

Subsequently, NTPC floated simultaneous bids for one 660 mega-watt and one 500 mega-watt unit and the bid date was set for July 25. This has now been extended by another six weeks.

In light of the delay witnessed in the Sipat project, NTPC reverted to the 500 mega-watt technology for the second stage of the Kahalgaon project, which was initially scheduled to be implemented on the 660 mega-watt super critical format.

Both NTPC and the power ministry are been keen on state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's (Bhel) participation in the bidding process at Sipat so that the project's cost can be kept under control.

Bhel's core competence is in producing 500 mega-watt sets, it lacks the boiler technology for producing the 660 mega-watt sets.

Bhel has now tied-up with Alstom for boiler technology and is expected to bid for the 660 mega-watt unit. The company did not bid for the project earlier.

Power ministry officials said the energy-efficient 660 mega-watt technology was the technology of the future.

Despite Kahalgaon's reversion to the 500 mega-watt technology, NTPC's Barh super thermal project and the North Karanpura project would be implemented using the 660 mega-watt technology, officials said.

Delayed project

Sipat is the first power project in the country to be executed using the energy-efficient 660 mega-watt super critical technology and marks a change from the 500 mega-watt technology used in such projects so far

The lack of response from equipment suppliers forced NTPC to reduce the four 660 mega-watt units earlier planned for the first phase to three 660 mega-watt units

Moreover, the company reverted to the 500 mega-watt technology for the second phase of the Sipat project, which was originally scheduled to be executed using the 660 mega-watt technology