Reliance Power seeks to exit Krishnapatnam UMPP, writes to Andhra govt

Cites escalated coal cost, among other factors; suggests use of similar strategy used to exit Tilaiya UMPP

Looking to exit the stalled 4,000 MW Krishnapatnam power project, Reliance Power has written to Andhra Pradesh government suggesting that it could be done on similar lines to that of Tilaiya UMPP, which was acquired by procurers from the company.

The Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Power has said the Krishnapatnam UMPP, which was awarded to it in 2007, could not be taken forward due to escalated coal cost from Indonesia, among other factors.

The Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power Project (KUMMP) is located in Andhra Pradesh while Tilaiya plant was in Jharkhand.

Reliance Power has informed the Andhra Pradesh government the procurers of Tilaiya UMPP — which was stalled for over five years — have accepted the termination of power purchase agreement and decided to purchase the entire shareholding in the project Special Purpose Vehicle from the company by way of mutual discussion with the developers.

"We are fully confident that the issues pertaining to KUMPP can also be resolved in the same spirit by following similar principle by parties," CEO of Reliance Power N Venugopala Rao said in a letter to the Andhra Pradesh government last month.

An email query to a spokesperson of Reliance Power did not elicit any response.

“We are fully confident that the issues pertaining to KUMPP can also be resolved in the same spirit by following similar principle by parties," CEO of Reliance Power N Venugopala Rao wrote to the state government last month.

“We, therefore, request you to kindly consider similar resolution for KUMPP by purchasing the ownership of the project SPV with its assets including land from the present owners on mutually acceptable terms and return the Performance Bank Guarantees furnished by us," Rao said in the letter.

Andhra Pradesh Energy Secretary Ajay Jain told PTI that they are in talks with other state governments and would shortly call for a meeting to discuss the issue.

“A similar formula (applied by the Jharkhand government in respect to 3,960 megawatt Tilaiya ultra mega power project) has to be applied because five states are involved now. 

Shortly, we will call a meeting of all the procurers as this company is not going to take up the project," Jain told PTI.

“The land is still with them. That is the whole idea where we can take over the project and implement it. (If everything goes well) we will call tenders," he said.

According to him, if the central government allots domestic coal, then the project can become viable.

Coastal Andhra Power Limited (CAPL), a Reliance Power Limited subsidiary, was awarded the Krishnapatnam UMPP in 2007 and the power produced by the project was to be shared by four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Later, Telangana was added as it was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in June 2014.