UMPP bidding norms may be revised soon: Power Min official

Bidding norms for executing ultra mega power projects may be revised soon, a Power ministry official said today.
"If it (revising bidding norms) is required, then we will revise them," the official said here.
The standard bidding norms are under revision by the Advisory Group, which was earlier headed by Suresh Prabhu.
After Prabhu took charge as Railway Minister, the top post of the Advisory Group is lying vacant.
When asked about appointing Prabhu's successor, the official did not respond.
Private power producers, time and again, have expressed concerns over the bidding norms.

The main concerns are on the model change which has been incorporated in the new standard bidding document for bidding for the UMPPs.

The private power producers have also asked government to consider their suggestion to go on with build, operate, own model and not on the other model which is design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) model.
The companies have also sought governments' consideration on some changes to fuel charges on Odisha UMPP and Cheyyur in Tamil Nadu UMPP where the coal will be imported.
Last month, Adani, Jindal Power, Sterlite and GMR pulled out of the race for UMPPs in Odisha and Tamil Nadu, leaving only state-run NTPC in the fray for the proposed plants.
The companies, however, did not specify the reasons for the withdrawal.

For the Odisha UMPP, NTPC, NHPC, Tata, Adani, JSW Energy, Jindal Power, Sterlite, CLP and L&T were among the pre-qualified firms while for the Cheyyur (Tamil Nadu) UMPP, NTPC, Adani, CLP, GMR, Jindal, JSW Energy, Sterlite, L&T were among the pre-qualified parties.
The preliminary bids for these projects were invited last year.