Power transmission fails to attract investment

Shortfall in projects offered against government's commitment

Piyush Goyal, minister of state for coal, power and renewable energy, had said on several occasions last year that transmission would be the next sunrise industry and the government would auction projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore during 2015-16.

As the power sector enters a new financial year with a record generation capacity in conventional and renewable energy, investment in transmission is clearly lagging. Of the committed Rs 1 lakh crore, projects worth Rs 18,000 crore were tendered out.

Aimed at power evacuation mainly in east and south India, these were inter-state transmission corridors in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and some parts of north India.

A total of 13 projects went under tariff-based competitive bidding during 2015-16 at a cumulative estimated cost of Rs 18,300 crore. Three projects each were won by Sterlite Grid, Essel Infra, Adani Power and state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India. One was won by Kalpataru Power. These projects were shortlisted by the Central Electricity Authority. Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation conducted the auctions.

“In the next 12 months, at least Rs 1 lakh crore of transmission capacity will be bid out. And, I see global players coming to India. It’s a great annuity business,” Goyal had told this newspaper in June 2015.

While auctioned projects witnessed close bidding, many players left the business for lack of opportunities, said a Delhi-based power sector expert. “Whether it is European major Isolux Corsan or Indian companies like L&T, most of the noted names have either slowed down or stopped participating because big projects are not being offered,” he said.

Power transmission was opened up to the private sector in 2010 with the award of the western regional system strengthening to Reliance Infra and the east-north interconnection line to Sterlite Energy. The CERC in 2011 ruled power transmission projects should be awarded through competitive bidding like generation projects. Power Grid was the only company operating in this area till then.

The recently amended National Tariff Policy requires projects apart from those of strategic importance, which are to be nominated to Power Grid, be auctioned. “The tariff policy does not mention the demarcation, but the government is working towards awarding as many projects through bidding,” a power ministry official said.

A government statement recently said Power Grid commissioned transmission projects worth Rs 30,300 crore during 2015-16, the highest ever by the company. Power Grid executives said it would continue to participate in auctions because “nominating a project was at the discretion of the government”.  Six projects totalling over Rs 9,000 crore will be auctioned in 2016-17.

The first phase of the green corridors costing Rs 40,000 crore is being built by Power Grid, nominated to it last year. The second phase of the green corridors costing Rs 50,000 crore is likely to be auctioned.

TEPID RESPONSE
 

Project	Date of Award	Estimated cost (Rs cr)	Bidder
Gurgaon	2016 March	1,000	Sterlite Grid
NRSS 36	2016 March	500	Essel
Warangal	2016 Feb	3,000	Essel
OPGC	2015 Dec	1,000	Sterlite Grid
Beyond Vemagiri	2015 Nov	3,000	PGCIL
HEPs Bhutan	2015 Nov	1,200	Essel
ATS Tanda	2015 Oct	350	KPTL
Maheshwaram	2015 July	400	Sterlite Grid
Chhatisgarh A	2015 July	1,100	Adani
Chhatisgarh B	2015 July	1,500	Adani
Sipat	2015 July	750	Adani
Gadarwara A	2015 April	2,300	PGCIL
Gadarwara B	2015 April	2,200	PGCIL
Total FY16		18,300

Source: PFC & REC