The Power Company of Karnataka Ltd (PCKL), a wholly-owned company of government of Karnataka and the authorised representative of the five electricity supply companies (Escoms) in Karnataka, which has failed to secure coal linkage for its proposed 1,320 Mw super-critical thermal power project at Gulbarga, has invited fresh global bids for supply of power on long term basis under Case-2 Bidding Framework as per the competitive bidding guidelines.
The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 7,500 crore. The PCKL had floated bids for the Gulbarga Thermal Power Project on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis in July 2010. About 23 bidders were qualified including Ambani brothers at RFQ (request for qualification) stage.
“As per the original plan, PCKL had the responsibility to secure coal linkage for this project. However, as the government of India has not provided coal linkage to many power projects including Gulbarga project in Karnataka, the company has amended the RFQ document and enabled the private players to secure coal linkage on their own. Since, this is a major change, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) asked us to invite fresh bids,” a top PCKL official said.
Though the opportunity is given to new players to bid for the project, all the 23 qualified bidders will have to submit fresh proposal in the formats provided in the modified RFQ documents, the official said.
Tata Power, GMR Energy Limited Jindal Power Ltd, Shree Cement Limited, IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd, Sterlite Energy Ltd, Aditya Birla Essel Mining & Industries Ltd, GVK Industries Ltd, AES (India) Private Ltd, Adani Power Ltd, Dalmia Power Ltd and Videocon among others have been qualified already.
The PCKL has asked the bidders to submit their RFQ documents by June 25, 2012, and the bids will be opened the same date, a notification issued by PCKL on Monday said.
PCKL is in possession of 1,601 acres of land in Gulbarga taluk near Firozabad, Kirangi and Nadisinnur village limits and has secured allocation for 2.06 TMC of water from Googal Barrage across Krishna River.
As per the amended RFQ documents, the successful bidders are required to obtain coal linkages of imported or domestic or blend of both.
PCKL had first floated bids in 2007 for setting up 2x660 Mw (1,320 Mw) coal-based thermal power plant at Farhatabad near Gulbarga in north Karnataka. Subsequently, 11 companies were qualified out of 14 bidders. However, after the KERC raised certain objections, the PCKL had to float fresh bids in July 2010 and another 12 companies were qualified including Mukesh Ambani-led RIL.
The project will be constructed over a period of four years from the date of signing the agreement and the entire power generated would be supplied to the state grid, PCKL official added.
This is the first project taken up by PCKL under the competitive bid route. Apart from this project, the PCKL is also in the process of developing another 1,320 Mw thermal power project in Ghataprabha taluk of Belgaum district.
PCKL is responsible for capacity addition by way of setting up of new power projects through bidding process, under Case-II bidding guidelines issued by Ministry of Power, GOI and long term procurement of power under Case-I bidding guidelines of MoP, GoI.
