The Punjab government is planning to extend the date for submission of request for qualifications (RFQ) for setting up the 2,640Mw coal-based Gidderbaha thermal power.
The government had earlier extended the date thrice since December last year due to non-allocation of coal linkages for the project, which is coming up on a build-own-operate basis in the state.
Though the last date for submission of RFQ this time is April 16, it is likely to be extended to July, said sources, adding a meeting with the coal ministry for coal linkages had been postponed to June as the election code of conduct was in place.
The management of Gidderbaha Power Ltd, the special purpose vehicle incorporated by the Punjab State Electricity Board for the project, will meet on April 15 in this regard.
It is may be recalled that Reliance Power, Larsen & Toubro, Adani Infrastructure and GMR Energy are the four players who have submitted RFQ for the project.
Initially, the last date for submission of RFQ was December 19, 2008, which was extended to January 19, 2009. Later, it was again extended to February 16 as the board wanted more companies to participate in the bidding process. But, again the board extended it by two months and fixed April 16 as the last date.
The proposed project would be spread over 2,311 acres of land and is likely to attract an investment of Rs 6 crore per mega watt.
Besides Gidderbaha, the government has awarded three more thermal projects at Rajpura (1,200 Mw), Talwandi Sabo (2,000 Mw), and Goindwal Sahib (540 Mw). While Lanco Infratech is developing the Rajpura project, Mumbai-based Sterlite Energy Ltd has been awarded the Talwandi Sabo project. GVK is setting up the Goindwal Sahib plant.
