PFC invites bid for UMPP coal blocks consultant

Amid the recent spate of de-allocation of coal blocks, PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL), a fully-owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation (PFC), has invited bids to select a consultant for developing coal blocks allocated for the Bhedabahal ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Odisha.

PFC is the nodal agency for implementing UMPPs. Meenakshi, Meenakshi-B and the dip side of Meenakshi blocks have been allocated for the 4,000 Mw plant to be built at Bhedabahal in western Odisha’s Sundargarh district.

“PFCCL wishes to avail the services of a consulting organisation to undertake consultancy assignment for the preparation of geological reports, mining plans, feasibility reports, EIA (environment impact assessment)/EMP (environment management plan) studies, land acquisition and forest clearance in respect of Meenakshi, Meenakshi-B and dip side of Meenakshi coal blocks,” PFCCL said in its bid document. The annual requirement of fuel for the Bhedabahal UMPP has been estimated at 19-20 million tonnes of coal.  

The coal from the allocated blocks would move from pit head to coal loading point at Dhuka chowk through a six-km belt conveyor system. After loading, the coal would be transported through an MGR (merry go round) system of about 64 km loop length (aerial distance of 31 km).

The total land requirement of developing the coal mines is 1,308 hectares (ha) — 492 ha for Menakshi, 486 ha for Meenakshi-B and 330 ha for dip side of Meenakshi coal blocks.

The coal block area involves 102 ha of reserve/ protected forest, 332 ha revenue forest, 236 ha of government land and 638 ha of private land.

Central Mine Planning & Design Institute, a fully-owned subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has already carried out regional exploration in Meenakshi-B and dip side of Meenakshi coal block area.

The Request for Qualification for the UMPP was issued on September 25 last year. Odisha Integrated Power Ltd (OIPL) has received applications from nine prospective developers — Adani Power Ltd, CLP India Ltd, Jindal Power Ltd, JSW Energy Ltd, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, National Hydro Power Corporation Ltd, NTPC Ltd, Sterlite Infraventures Ltd and Tata Power Ltd.

OIPL had submitted a revised proposal for environment clearance in October 2013 . The proposal is under consideration of the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests. The selection of a bidder is being done according to the tariff-based competitive bidding guidelines issued by the central government on design, build, finance, own and transfer or DBFOT basis.