RFQ for at least one UMPP soon: Officials

The Union power ministry is likely to invite a request for qualification (RFQ) for at least one of the three Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) for which it has identified sites in Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, a senior government official has said.

“We are expecting one RFQ this year,” Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, Gireesh B Pradhan, told reporters at a conference here. The ministry has shortlisted Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, Bedabahal in Orissa and Kotipalli in Andhra Pradesh for the projects.

“We have identified a total of 14 sites for UMPPs,” Pradhan said. Four out of these have already been awarded to private players. Three out of these are with an the Anil Ambani group while the fourth has been bagged by Tata Power.

Each UMPP has a capacity of 4,000 Megawatt (Mw). Though no timeline has been fixed for the RFQ, it is likely to be invited soon and will followed by financial and technical bids from interested power players. Pradhan said the country's target of achieving 78,775 Mw of power during the XI Plan Period (2007-12) was “doable”.

Asked what the government would do to expedite power projects, he said, “We will have more intensive monitoring, a much closer review at all levels and besides, get Bharat Heavy Electricals to take steps to shorten the various processes.”