The Hindu Business Line : SkodaExport bullish on Jharkhand power projects

SkodaExport, the EPC contractor from the Czech Republic for executing turnkey projects in large infrastructure sectors such as power, oil and gas, is upbeat on its prospects in the Indian power sector.

The company has been chosen L1 in Jharkhand for executing the proposed three, 210 MW, coal-based power units, with investments of approximately Rs 2,300 crore, according to Mr Jaroslav Hubacek, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

“We expect the final decision from the Jharkhand Government anytime and are fully prepared to execute the project on a turnkey basis,” Mr Hubacek told Business Line.

To tie up with local cos

SkodaExport plans to completely indigenise the projects by forging partnerships with local companies for the civil works, manufacture of boiler and other components. Only the crucial engineering and design work would be done back in Czech Republic, he added.

The Czech company is also pitching for a 500 MW project in Tamil Nadu, where the tendering process is on. “We have offered our services to the State Government for the modernisation and reconstruction of power projects,” Mr Hubacek, who was here along with a business delegation from the Czech Republic, said.

The company recently completed the modernisation and refurbishment of the Ennore Power plants in Tamil Nadu. They included the 260 MW and 110 MW units, at an estimated cost of $60-70 million.

In Andhra Pradesh, where it had proposed massive investments in the Nizampatnam port modernisation project in Guntur district, SkodaExport, is optimistic of reviving the project, after discussions with the State Government on December 11, Mr Hubeck said.

The project, which includes the creation of a special economic zone, a 1000 MW power project along with the port modernisation, has got stuck as even the proposed special purpose vehicle (SPV) has not been constituted.

While refusing to go into details over the causes for the delays in the take off of the project, he said, detailed discussions with the State Government could show the way for some progress.