PGCIL to submit revised offer for Nigeria project

PowerGrid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), the country’s largest power transmission utility, will submit a revised offer for consultancy project in Nigeria and expects to finalise a deal in the next two to three months.

PowerGrid was among the three shortlisted bidders by the Nigerian government to manage the country’s electricity grid to be constructed at a cost of $3.5 billion. It was declared the lowest bidder last year.

The Nigerian government has now called for revised offers after enhancing the scope of the management project, a senior executive from PowerGrid told Business Standard. “We expect to bag the deal in next 2-3 months,” the executive said, adding they were yet to receive the new proposal from the Nigerian government.

The company executives had met Nigerian government officials last month to pursue their case and expedite the award process. PowerGrid already offers consultancy services in overseas markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Bhutan, among others.

Last year, PowerGrid secured an engineering consultancy assignment for two 400 Kv GIS sub-stations and associated overhead transmission lines in Dubai from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA). Besides, PowerGrid is providing consultancy to Bangladesh to set up a 400 Kv HVDC network.

It also plans to install transmission lines from Bangladesh border. Similar opportunities are being explored in Nepal and Bhutan, which are keen to tap their hydro potential.

The transmission firm owns and operates around 81,136 circuit kilometres of transmission lines and alone transmits over 45 per cent of the total power generated in the country. With India planning to add 78,700 Mw power generation capacity during 11th Plan and another 1,00,000 Mw in the 12th Plan, huge investment in transmission will be required for evacuation of electricity. Power Grid plans to make an investment of over Rs 85,000 crore in transmission projects over the 11th and 12th Plans.