CESC bids for Sasan ultra power project in MP

Kolkata-based power utility, CESC has expressed its interest to bid for the Rs 16,000 crore ultra-mega power project at Sasan in Madhya Pradesh.

"We have submitted our request for qualification for the Sasan 4000 MW ultra-mega power project. If we are selected then we will participate seriously in the bidding process," Sumantra Banerjee, MD of CESC, said.

"The main area of interest to participate in the project is ready supply of fuel - coal blocks. Moreover, the infrastructure to transport power for sale will be made available," Banerjee said when asked about the reasons behind the interest in the project outside West Bengal.

The government had earlier announced its intention to facilitate setting up of 7 ultra mega power projects to put generation across the country on a fast track.

CESC did not bid for the Mundra, Gujarat project as it would depend on imported coal, Banerjee said.

"Other fiscal incentives will not help directly as the contract would be awarded based on competitive bidding on tariff and all incentives, if any, would be taken into account," he said.

If selected, CESC would rope in a partner to share the financial burden in funding the project.

This would be the first greenfield project by CESC entailing such large investment and capacity. CESC has several projects in the pipeline including a 1,000 MW project in Haldia.