NTPC, Bhel may tie up for ultra mega projects

The NTPC Ltd may form a consortium with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) for developing the proposed 4,000-Mw ultra mega power projects.

Bhel is open to the idea of a consortium and may participate by either taking some equity in the projects or by undertaking the engineering, procurement and construction work for the projects.

"The NTPC is in touch with the power generation equipment manufacturer and Bhel will be happy to respond," government sources told Business Standard.

In another development related to ultra mega power projects, of the 30 entities that had submitted expressions of interest for the Sasan and Mundra ultra mega power projects in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, respectively, 28 have made it to the next stage and submitted their request for qualification (RFQ) bids.

For the 4,000-Mw Sasan project, 13 companies and two consortia have submitted RFQ bids. "GMR and China Light and Power's consortium and Globeleq Singapore Pte and Lanco Infratech's consortium are in the fray," a power ministry official said.

The lead members for the respective consortia are China Light and Power India Ltd and Globeleq Singapore Pte.

Other experienced companies vying for the Sasan project are Larsen & Toubro, Essar Power, AES India, Torrent Power and Tata Power.

For the Mundra project, 10 companies and three consortia have submitted RFQ bids. Adani Exports Ltd, Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation and Gujarat Adani Ports Ltd are in the fray, with Adani Exports Ltd leading the consortium.

"The other bidding consortium of Khanjee, GMH and TXU has Khanjee and GMH as lead members. The third consortium of Lanco and SNC Lavalin International Inc., has SNC Lavalin as lead member," the official added.

EIG Energy Infrastructure Group AB, Reliance Energy Generation Ltd and Sumitomo Corporation are among the companies vying for the Mundra project.

The request for proposal (RFQ) documents have been scheduled to be opened on July 1, followed by their submission by September 30. Selection of the developer and transfer of special purpose vehicles for the two projects are slated to be completed by December 31.