Anpara C bids now on June 6

The opening of bids for the long-awaited 1,000 Mw Anpara C thermal power project, proposed for today, has been postponed by 15 days.

The pre-bid conference organized by the UP Power generation corporation Limited, here today has also been postponed. As per the revised schedule the bids would now be opened on June 6. The project is hanging in balance for more then a decade.

Three power companies were left in the race for the contract of 1,000 Mw Anpara C thermal power project. The companies are Reliance Energy generation Ltd, Essar Power Ltd and Lanco Kundapalli Power Pvt Ltd.

Two companies have communicated to the corporation they needed more time for spadework to bid for the project so the time limit may be extended by 15 days. The three companies in the race would also have to deposit Rs 9 crore as earnest money along with the RFP.

These three companies have purchased the document of Request for proposal (RFP) and these companies were to file the RFP by May 22. In the bid document the three companies in the race were required to submit the cost of the commissioning the project and also the rate per unit at which they would supply power to the five power distribution companies. UPPCL sources the lowest bidder was most likely to grab the contract.

The state government in 2003 had initiated the process for implementation of the project in private sector which is strongly opposed by the power employees.

For finding a private entrepreneur the UP Power Generation Corporation Ltd, had floated the global tenders for the award of the Anpara C, project in November 2004.

The bidders were asked to submit the RFQ by December 1, 2004. The task force on energy headed by the state chief secretary had approved the RFQ on March 14 2005.

The state government on April 2005 had cleared the RFQ submitted by the eight companies and these companies were asked to submit the Request for proposal (RFP). The last date for buying the 400 page RFP documents costing Rs 10 Lakh, was May 10, 2005 and only three companies turned up. The power regulator `UP State Electricity Regulatory Commission' also granted its approval to the RFP document in March last. The approved RFP document has been handed over to all the three bidders in the fray for the Anpara C project. Financial closure for the Anpara C thermal project is likely to be initiated as soon as the contract is awarded. The successful bidder would be required to commission the power project in next 48 months from the date of the award of the contract.

The successful bidder for the Anpara C thermal project would be given 80-Acre land on lease for next 30 years at the annual lease rent of Rs 100 per acre.

Two thermal units Anpara A and Anpara are already operation since 1993, generating 1,560 MW. The Anpara C promoter would have the benefit of common facilities like coal washer, coal handling plant and water reservoir.

Five power distribution companies, all subsidiaries of the state run power utility UP Power corporation Limited would sign separate Escrow account agreement with the power generator and would purchase the entire 1,000 MW generated by the Anpara C. Power companies had demanded government's guarantee for the project that was rejected and were instead, offered "Escrow account cover".