Punjab Newsline
PSEB reiterates to implement all power projects in stipulated time frame
Punjab Newsline Network
Monday, 17 August 2009
CHANDIGARH: Taking a strong exception to the media reports regarding the status of four upcoming thermal power plants in the state, the Punjab State Electricity Board Chairman Mr.HS Brar described these as ‘figment of imagination, totally baseless, factually incorrect and highly misleading’.

Removing the misgivings about the present position of these thermal plants,Brar said that PSEB was all set to make Punjab a power surplus State in coming years by generating additional power capacity of 6400 MW with these four coal based thermal plants at Goindwal Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura and Gidderbaha being developed on BOO (Built Own Operate) basis in the state.

Outlining the progress of Thermal Plants awarded to private builders, the Chairman informed that work of constructing 2 x 270 (540MW) Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Project had been awarded to M/s GVK group of Hyderabad. The company had undertaken up the construction work at site with more than 300 Engineers, Supervisors & workers along with heavy machinery & has assigned the contract for BTG (Boiler-Turbine-Generator) to M/s BHEL and for Balance of Plant to M/s Punj Lloyd Limited. The firm has awarded Non-EPC work to M/s Vertex and the site grading, compound wall and other works have already started. Besides M/s. Tata Consulting Engineers had been appointed as its consultant and for consultancy of Railway siding M/s Barsyl has been selected. The design and drawing work of Buildings was already under process. The financial closure of plant which was earlier planned in May 2010 had been advanced to September 2009 & the plant was expected to be commissioned before September 2012. Power Purchase Agreement with the firm had been signed by PSEB on May 26, 2009.

The Chairman of the Board further stated that the work of 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Project has been awarded to M/s Sterlite Energy Limited, Mumbai. Power Purchase Agreement with the company has been signed on September 1, 2008 for next 25 years. As per PPA the first unit of 660MW would be commissioned in August 2012. Likewise, the Second and third units of 660 MW would be commissioned within interval of four months each. M/s Sterlite Energy Limited informed PSEB that their financial closure for the plant was expected to be done by end of August 2009 and the first unit was expected to be commissioned in March 2012.

Referring to the progress of 1320MW Rajpura Thermal Plant, Brar said that the 1078 acres of land had already been acquired and all requisite clearances had also been obtained. Due to global recession only one company M/s Lanco Infratech participated in the bidding process but as per guidelines of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), Letter of Intent (LoI) could not be issued to the firm. In compliance of the order of PSERC , rebidding had been done and Request for Qualification (RFQ) & Request for Proposal ( RFP) documents were floated on June 10, 2009 with due date of submission on August 31, 2009. PSEB had evoked an overwhelming response as eight firms have purchase the RFQ & RFP documents till date including M/S Reliance Power Ltd., M/S L & T Power Development M/S Welspun Urja India Limited, M/S Essar Power limited, M/S Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., M/S NTPC Limited, M/S GMR Energy Limited and M/S Adani Power Limited.

The LoI of Rajpura Thermal plant was expected to be issued by September 2009 and first unit of 660 MW was expected by September 2013 and second unit in January 2014.

Regarding the status of 4x660MW (2640MW) Gidderbaha Thermal Power Project, the Chairman informed that all site studies had been completed. Water Linkage and Rail Linkage for the plant had already been obtained. Request for Qualification was made way back on October 31, 2008 which was then extended to September 16, 2009 due to non receipt of Coal Linkage from Ministry of Coal, Government of India. He pointed out full efforts were also being made by Punjab Government for early clearance of Coal Linkage from Ministry of Coal, GoI since last year. The Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had also personally taken up the issue to immediately allot coal block/ long term linkage for upcoming 2640 MW Gidderbaha Thermal Power Plant both with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as Union Minister of Coal Mr.Sriprakash Jaiswal so that the project was not unduly delayed. As soon as the coal linkage was received from Government of India, the bidding process would be restarted forthwith. The first unit of 660MW of the plant was expected to be commissioned in June 2014, added Brar.

Brar categorically said that all these Thermal Plants were taken in hand with due approval from Ministry of Power & Central Electricity Authority and the Board was vigorously pursuing the implementation of these projects to make Punjab self reliant in power.