RFPs for Gulbarga power project soon

Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL), a wholly-owned company of the government of Karnataka, will shortly issue request for proposal (RFP) documents to 22 bidders qualified for its proposed 1,320-Mw Gulbarga coal-based super-critical thermal power project. The project is proposed under the Case-2 bidding framework according to the competitive bidding guidelines. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 7,500 crore.

PCKL is a special purpose vehicle created by the state to bridge the widening gap between demand and supply by capacity addition through the competitive bidding route. The Gulbarga project is the first to be taken up by PCKL under the competitive bid route.

In Case-2 bidding the central or the state government, which is calling for bids, will assist private developers to set up large power plants in securing land, water and mandatory clearances.

The PCKL had refloated bids for the Gulbarga project on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis twice in July 2010 and May 2012 following directions from the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission.

“We have completed the technical evaluation of all bidders and are waiting for the legal department opinion. Once the legal department gives the clearance, we will issue the RFP documents to the successful bidders and complete the selection of the winner in two months from the date of offering RFP documents,” said DN Narasimha Raju, principal secretary, energy department.

Tata Power, GMR Energy Limited, Jindal Power, Shree Cement Limited, GVK Industries, Adani Power Ltd and Reliance among others are in the fray to bag the project.