In a bid to extract power from the 1980 Mw thermal power plant proposed in Lalitpur and Ghatampur, three big players in power sector have evinced interest in laying transmission lines and construction of sub-stations.
Energy department sources said Reliance, Isolux and Sterlite have shown interest in the project that seeks to add a significant power input, if not to make the state self-reliant. Sources said the companies had been provided request for proposal (RFP) by the bid evaluation committee of the state government.
While Reliance power is already engaged in power generation, Isolux has been involved in construction of transmission lines. Reliance has always been close to the Samajwadi Party. Sterlite too happens to have shown interest in setting up a power plant in Uttar Pradesh under the Memorandum of Understanding route.
According to sources well placed and privy to the meeting of the bid evaluation committee, the three companies were shortlisted based on their experience and the bids they came up with.
The companies will be engaged in laying transmission lines of 765 Kv capacity from Agra and even Ghatampur which is situated about 30-40 km from southwest from Kanpur and about 120 km from the state capital. The project, a joint venture of UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam and Neyveli Lignite corporation, the project of 1980 Mw capacity was inaugurated last year by union coal minister Shri Prakash Jaiswal and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Interestingly, the Isolux has fallen into a deep controversy over proposal to change the configuration of the transmission lines in the Rs 10,000 transmission project. It was only after the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) cracked the whip on Spanish Transmission Company that the company agreed to the conditions that it agreed to during the bid process. Isolux Corsan has been showing interest in installing wires made out of aluminum, termed as All Aluminum Alloy Conductors (AAAC). The company, although, had bid for installation of ACSR conductors instead. Interestingly, in July last year, the UP Transmission Corporation (UPTCL) had told the commission that the AAAC conductors' line losses will increase by 7% to 11%.
The letter issued by the UP Transmission Corporation said by using AAAC conductors the company will be saving significantly in the capital cost due to lighter towers, lighter foundation and longer span, which will have a commercial implication on project cost and also on the tariff. The UPPTCL said such post contract changes are not possible as per Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines.
The UPERC, in its order dated April 8, said since the conductor type to be used in the transmission line has been associated with ACSR conductor under the scope of work in the bid document, the panel has decided that only ACSR conductors shall be used in the construction of line. The commission also asked the corporation to submit its acceptance of conductors within two weeks from the date of the order under intimation to the commission.
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