The Ministry of Power plans to call bids for two domestic coal-based ultra mega power projects next month and two more by March 2016.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event organised by India Energy Forum, PK Pujari, Secretary, Ministry of Power, said that out of the four projects on the anvil, one would be in Bedabahal in Odisha and another in Deogarh in Jharkhand. Locations for the remaining two are yet to be decided.

The Bedabahal project was to go under the hammer in January but following a weak response from the private sector, the bidding process was scrapped. Subsequently, the government worked out fresh bidding documents for ultra mega power projects based on the recommendations of a committee headed by the former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha.

Tariff policy

Meanwhile, the Power Ministry will also soon circulate a Cabinet note framing the tariff policy.

Pujari said that the note is expected to be ready in another 15 days.

He also added that the signing of agreements with State governments and their power distribution utilities under the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana is also expected to begin in the next seven to 15 days.

“We are in the process of finalising the OM (Office Memorandum) now. We are already discussing with States and maybe in the next seven to 15 days we will start getting the details of it and start signing the Memorandum of Understanding.

During the discussion of this proposal most of the State governments having distribution utilities in financial distress position had shown the willingness to join. We presume that all of them will join,” Pujari said.

 

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