Genco To Call Global Bids For Vtps-Iv

The Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGenco) will soon call for international bids for selecting the EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) contractor for the 660-MW super critical thermal power unit under the stage-IV at Vijayawada Thermal Power Station (VTPS).

APGenco has shortlisted four names to act as tendering and implementation consultant for the project that will be funded by KfW, Germany, to the extent of Rs 1,200 crore in the total project cost of Rs 2,706 crore.

Disclosing this after reviewing the progress of the construction of alternative cooling water system with an investment of Rs 100 crore at VTPS, J Parthasarathy, the CMD of APGenco, said that the construction work of the 660-MW super-critical unit would start by June 2004 and would be commissioned by March 2007.

 

This is for the first time in the country that this kind of technology is being attempted with a single unit of 660 MW capacity. At present, 500 MW is the biggest capacity for a single unit in the country. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) accorded techno-economic clearance (TEC) for the unit in February.

With super-critical technology, the overall efficiency is expected to increase by about 2.5 per cent over the same with the existing sub-critical technology. With this unit, the total capacity of VTPS would increase from 1260 MW to 1920 MW.

While KfW has come forward to extend a loan of Rs 1,200 crore loan for the project, Rural Electricity Corporation (REC) is considering a proposal to provide Rs 800 crore loan. The remaining Rs 706 crore will be funded by APGenco, Parthasarathy said.

On the 420 MW (2X210MW) Rayalaseema Thermal Power Project (RTPP) Stage-II, Parthasarathy said that the construction work would start next month and the project would be commissioned in about 36 months.

The Rs 1,570 crore project would be financed by a 100 per cent debt arrangement from a Chinese government agency.