Reliance Power to start second unit of Sasan plant next month...

 

Reliance Power will commission the second 660 MW unit of its ultra mega power project at Sasan in Madhya Pradesh next month.

The second unit at the coal-fired plant will be tested this month and will become operational next month, a company executive told PTI.

The Sasan project is the first of three 4,000 mega watt plants that Reliance Power is building. The first 660 MW unit at Sasan was commissioned in March.

"Boiler light-up has been achieved for the second 660 MW unit at the Sasan UMPP," the company said today in a statement.

Coal production has started from the 20 million tonne per annum capacity Moher and Moher-Amlohri mines allotted to the power project, according to the statement.

Reliance Power is setting up UMPPs at Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Tilaiya in Jharkhand.

Two 600 MW units of the company's Rosa thermal power project are operational.

Reliance Power shares traded at Rs 75.45, up 1.14 per cent, in the afternoon on the BSE.

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Nepal's initiative to benefit Indian hydropower companies...

 

With high hydropower potential but low output level, severely power starved Himalayan country Nepal is in process of widening the bottlenecking identified as hindrance for the power promoters, mainly from India, to come forward. The country has a set objective to produce 25,000 MW extra hydropower by 2030.

According to Mr. K D Adhikary, Joint Secretary at Nepal Energy Ministry, conflicting acts are causing trouble in initiating power projects. Thus, the country is planning to amend these acts.

As the Bonus Act and Electricity Act are contradictory to each other on the issue of bonus, so is the case of local Self-governance Act and Electricity Act on the issue of electricity royalty. Similarly, acts about registration fees, royalty, income tax, value-added tax ( VAT) are also conflicting. Officials in many departments have urged the government to review many other similar contradictory acts.

Issues like integrated license, Power Development Agreement (PDA), one-door policy, land acquisition and its ceiling, determination of the standard of resettlement, local participation in share investment and tax discounts are also being re assessed.

Undoubtedly these are going to make things easier for Indian companies getting involved into Nepal's hydropower initiatives through projects like Upper Karnali (900 MW), Marsyangdi II (600 MW), Arun III (900 MW) or Tamakoshi III (650 MW). There are many other potential projects to tap in.

Nepal government has an objective to generate 25,000 MW fresh hydropower and build adequate power evacuation infrastructure by 2030 to have 18,000MW export capability in hand.

But, "It is tough for financially crunched Nepal to develop all these alone. So, we are open for collaborations from other countries like India," said Nepal Power Ministry officials.

On the other side, "Nepal is a major source of green energy and promising field for Indian power developer companies. We are always keen on shouldering responsibility to harness this," said Mr. A.B.L. Srivastava, Director (Finance) of Indian hydropower major NHPC Limited.

Despite having 42,000MW economically viable hydropower potential Nepal's present production is around 1000MW, much lesser than its need at peak hour. The shortage forces the country's national power monopoly, Nepal Electricity Authority, to impose mandatory load shedding that sometimes goes even for 12 hr a day.

"Over 40% industrial operations are almost dead due to power shortage," said Nepal's major trade and commerce association members. "The new initiative may alter the scenario," they said.

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GERC proposes amendments in renewable purchase regulations; revises RPO and APPC clauses..

 

Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has issued draft regulations for the amendment of Power procurement from renewable sources Regulations - 2010 and invited comments from all the stake holders till December 8, 2013.

The major changes proposed by GERC and enlisted below:

As the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO - Minimum Quantum of purchase from renewable energy sources) specified by the existing regulations have come to an end during the year 2012-13, the  GERC in the draft amendments has proposed draft RPOs for the years 2013-14 to 2016-17.

Following table enlists the RPO percentages specified by GERC beyond the year 2012-13.

Year	Total	Wind	Solar	Others (Biomass, Bagasse, MSW)
2013-14	7%	5.50%	1%	0.50%
2014-15	9%	7%	1.50%	0.50%
2015-16	10%	7.75%	1.75%	0.50%
2016-17	10%	7.75%	1.75%	0.50%

 

Also, GERC has proposed certain amendments with respect to the Average Power Purchase Cost (APPC) & treatment of the same for the projects being constructed under Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Scheme issued by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).

Some of the major amendments are enlisted below:

• Definition of Average Power Purchase Cost (APPC) has been added as "the weighted average pooled price at which the distribution licensee has purchased the electricity including cost of self generation, if any, in the previous year from all the energy suppliers long-term and short-term, but excluding those based on renewable energy sources, as the case may be."
• The Commission shall determine the ‘Average Power Purchase Cost’ of the distribution licensee concerned on annual basis.
• Distribution Licensee shall pay the APPC when it purchases the electrical component of the renewable energy projects registered under the REC scheme notified by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
• Further, the Distribution Licensee shall pay APPC for the surplus energy available post setting off energy after consumption of electricity at the captive consumer or open access consumer under third party sale under the REC scheme.

The draft regulations as well as the public notice can be downloaded from the below links.

• Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (Procurement of Energy from Renewable Sources) (first amendment) Regulations, 2013
• Public Notice

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Reliance Power - Boiler Lightup achieved for 2nd 660MW unit of 3960MW

 

Reliance Power's Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project has achieved boiler lightup for its second unit on 8th November 2013 after achieving for the first unit in Mar-2013.

Reliance Power Ltd has informed BSE regarding a Press Release dated November 08, 2013, titled "Boiler Lightup achieved for the Second 660MW unit of 3,960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Plant".

Reliance Power announced that Boiler Light Up has been achived for the second 660 MW unit at the 3960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Plant.

 

Excerpts from the Press Release of Reliance Power...

Reliance Power announced that Boiler Light Up has been achieved for the second 660 MW unit at the 3960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Plant. This is a critical milestone of the boiler commissioning activities for the unit.

The first 660 MW unit of the Sasan UMPP has already been commissioned in March 2013. As announced earlier, coal production has already commenced from the 20 million tonees per capapcity Moher & Moher-Amlohri Coal mines. The Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project is the world's largest integrated power plant and coal mining project.

About Reliance Power

Reliance Power Limited, a part of Reliance Group, is India's leading private sector power genration company. Te company has the largest portfolio of the power projects in private secotr, based on coal, gas, hydro and renewable energy, with an operating portfolio of 2545 MW. The company has the largest captive coal reserves in the private secotr, estimated at more than two billion tonnes. Besides, the company is also developing coal mines in Indonesia and coal bed methan blocks in India.

 

Source: Moneycontrol & BSE

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NTPC declares commercial operation of Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station...

 

 

NTPC Ltd has announced that the Unit-I of 110 MW of Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station Stage-I of Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited (A subsidiary company of NTPC Ltd) was declared on commercial operation w.e.f. November 01, 2013, subsequent to achieving the full load on August 09, 2013.

With this the total installed capacity and total commercial capacity of NTPC Group has become 41794 MW and 40294 MW respectively.

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L&T Construction wins Rs 2309 cr orders for various infrastructure projects including power projects...

 

The Transportation Infrastructure Business has secured a major order worth ` 694 crores from Kannur International Airport Limited for construction of a greenfield airport’s air side works near Kannur city in Kerala.

The scope includes design, engineering and construction of earth work and pavements for runway, basic strips, turning pads, taxiways, apron, access roads, drainage system, related retaining structures, formation platform for landside facilities along with airfield ground lighting system, visual aids for navigation and bird hazard reduction system.

This order adds one more feather to the company’s International airport construction expertise, matching global standards in line with Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai International airports.

In Power Transmission & Distribution Business, new orders valued ` 738 crores have been received. This includes an order worth USD 72 Million (` 447 Crs) received by L&T Oman LLC, a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited in Oman, from Oman Electricity Transmission Company.

The project is to be completed in 20 months and involves engineering, procurement and construction of two nos. 132/33 kV grid stations along with its 132 kV D/C overhead line and cabling works in Muscat Governorate, Sultanate of Oman. This project was won by L&T Oman against stiff international competition.

A turnkey order has also been received from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for construction of a 400 kV D/C transmission line under transmission system associated with Mauda Stage - 2 (2 x 660 MW) generation project and two 220 kV D/C transmission line at Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Another order has been received from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited for construction of 220 kV D/C Transmission line from Gadag to Bagalkot district in Karnataka on total turnkey basis.

The Buildings & Factories Business has secured an order worth ` 504 crores. The order is from an esteemed customer for construction of 15 Nos. residential towers on design and build model in Bangalore.

The scope of work includes designing and building of foundations, substructure, superstructure and associated mechanical, electrical, plumbing & finishing works.

The Heavy Civil Infrastructure Business has received new orders worth ` 373 crores.

The major order is received from Department of Atomic energy for design, engineering and supply of thermonuclear reactor components for cooling water system, chilled water system and heat rejection system at Gujarat.

Additional orders have also been received from various ongoing projects.

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India committed to highest safety standards at its nuclear plants...

 

India has said it is committed to implementing the highest safety standards at its nuclear power plants as it seeks to harness the benefits of atomic energy to meet its growing energy requirements.

"Nuclear power remains an important option not only for countries with existing nuclear programmes, but also for developing countries with growing energy requirements," visiting BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha said in his statement to the UN General Assembly on the 2012 annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

India has co-sponsored the draft resolution on the IAEA report.

Sinha said India is committed to implementing the "highest standards for the safety of Indian nuclear power plants and the associated fuel cycle facilities."

The country would also continue to participate and assist the IAEA Secretariat in its endeavor to enhance nuclear safety through various measures.

Sinha stressed that India is committed to harnessing the benefits of nuclear energy for electricity production while ensuring that highest priority is given to nuclear safety and security.

"India will need to rapidly raise the energy production to meet its growing energy requirements to achieve its developmental goals. The energy resources at our disposal make it imperative for us to consider all energy options," he said at the UNGA on November 5.

He said nuclear energy has a crucial role to play in achieving objectives of India's sustainable economic growth.

The country is also extensively engaged in development of nuclear technologies in fields extending beyond nuclear power, including isotope applications for improved crop varieties, crop protection and post-harvest technologies, radio-isotope applications for diagnostic and theraupetic uses in healthcare and technologies for safe drinking water.

He pointed out that currently there are 21 Nuclear Power Plant units operating in India and construction of four units of 700 MWe pressurized heavy-water reactors (PHWRs) is under progress at the Kakrapar and Rawatbhata sites in Rajasthan.

India has also setup two Voda Voda Energo Reactor (VVER) based NPPs at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, with the co-operation of Russia.

The power would be further raised to 1000 MWe in stages, increasing the nuclear power contribution in the country to about 5800 MWe. India is also setting-up 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam.

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Tata Power's low-end consumers to soar 7.92 lakh in Mumbai...

 

The ongoing tussle between Tata Power and Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra) to lure consumers in Mumbai is expected to become even more embittered.

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has ordered the transfer of R-Infra’s 7.92 lakh low-end residential consumers with a monthly power consumption of 0-300 units to Tata Power's distribution arm from November 1. MERC has asked Tata Power to supply electricity to these new low-end consumers from the R-Infra distribution network. Tata Power will pay wheeling, regulatory asset charges and other costs to R-Infra.

However, R-Infra had approached the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (ATE) challenging MERC's order. ATE has not stayed Merc's order, but will hear R-Infra’s petition on December 17. In the meantime, according to ATE’s order, R-Infra has again approached

MERC for extending the timeline for transfer of its consumers to Tata Power. The hearing is slated for November 8 at Merc.

A Tata Power spokesman said, “'Tata Power is studying the order.” On the other hand, an R-Infra spokesman stated, “R-Infra approached ATE, as the time-span given to implement Merc directives was too short and inadequate.”

Currently, of the 4.25 lakh consumers, Tata Power is supplying power to 2.50 lakh low-end residential consumers. However, R-Infra's low-end consumer base will fall to 1.1 million from the present 1.9 million. R-Infra is currently supplying power to a total of 2.8 million in Mumbai.

The current tariff charged by R-Infra from low end residential consumers for the 0-100 slab is Rs 3.93 per unit while Tata Power's tariff is Rs 2.13 per unit. For the 101-300 slab, R-Infra charges Rs 6.84 per unit against Tata Power's Rs 3.62 per unit. This excludes fixed charge.

These consumers are from the 11 clusters in Mumbai identified by Merc to introduce competition in the distribution business and thereby protect the interest of the common man, specifically low-end consumers by option of cheaper electricity to be sourced from TPC-D. Industry players believe that the transfer will  bring parity in the number of low-end residential consumers serviced by both the utilities. Further, R-Infra's subsidy burden is expected to come down.

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BORG Energy targets solar units at 40,000 homes across country...

 

BORG Energy India, a subsidiary of Texas-based BORG Inc, engaged in micro solar power units, has launched its Karnataka operations.

With this launch, BORG plans to launch its micro solar power units in 40,000 homes across the country. The company has a presence in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

“According to a KPMG study, India has 4 million homes who can buy our units and we plan to target 60 per cent of this market,” said Boaz Augustin Jr, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, BORG Energy India.

The device is priced from Rs 50,000 and will be sold through distributors and BORG’s showrooms.

The company has tied up with Shriram City Union Finance Ltd and Bajaj Finance Ltd to offer loans for installation of solar units, according to a statement.

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Bidding dateline extended for Odisha, Tamil Nadu UMPPs...

 

The bidding dates for 4,000-MW each ultra mega power projects (UMPPs) in Odisha and Tamil Nadu are extended by a fortnight.

The last date for submission of request for qualification (RFQ) for Bhedabahal project in Odisha would be November 25, while for the Cheyyur power plant in Tamil Nadu would be November 28.

Earlier, the last date for RFQ submission was November 11.

RFQ is the first stage of bidding, which is followed by submission of price bids. Each of the mega projects that would cost nearly Rs 24,000 crore are expected to be allotted by February.

Sources told Business Line that the extension of bidding dateline is to attract more competent players.

Till now, companies such as Tata Power, NHPC, NTPC, Sterlite, JSPL and JSW, among others have purchased the bid documents.

Last month, a global road show for the ultra mega power projects was held in Singapore.

“A few Japanese companies have also shown interest,’’ said a senior Power Ministry official.

100% FDI in power generation

India allows 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in power generation. The Government wants to portray the ultra mega power projects as most technologically advanced and one of the best investment opportunities in the country.

Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), the nodal agency for auctioning of ultra mega projects, has held diplomatic talks with nearly 12 countries — Germany, France, the UK, Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Australia, Israel, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

However, India is not offering any special dispensation to foreign players. Successful bidders for the projects would be decided purely on bidding parameters put in place by the Government, the Power Ministry official said.

Odisha, Tamil Nadu projects

While the Odisha project will be based on domestic coal, the Tamil Nadu project would be fired from imported fuel. The Government believes that it is offering investment-friendly parameters for these projects and claims to have cleared the major regulatory hurdles required for the setting up of mega power projects.

In August, the revised Standard Bidding Documents were given the go-ahead by an Empowered Group of Ministers. “The fuel charge is no longer a bid parameter. That takes away most of the variable risks of the project. Moreover, land, water and environment clearances have already been acquired for the project,” the official added.

At present, India has awarded four ultra mega power projects — one to Tata Power and three to Reliance Power. So far, only Tata Power’s project at Mundra in Gujarat is fully operational. The last auctioning round saw about six-seven bids from companies based in China and Singapore.

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