The Centre plans to invite global tenders
to develop four ultra mega power projects of 5,000 MW capacity that can
be extended up to 10,000 MW. These are part of government efforts to transform
the power sector and expected to meet the country's long-term requirements.
The projects that entail an investment
of a record Rs.80,000 crore, will be based on pit head coal, imported coal and
also hydro projects.
The Power Ministry, in association
with the Central Electricity Authority, is in the process of selecting sites for
these projects across the country.
The Union power ministry has convinced
all states to invite EoIs based on competitive tariffs for the development of
projects with 1,000 MW to 2,000 MW in their respective states. EoIs are expected
to be invited in the next four to five weeks, it is learnt.
Competitive bidding guidelines under
the Electricity Act have already been issued by the Power Ministry and
expression of interests would be invited in a couple of months.
Moreover, the ministry proposes to
open up the transmission sector for the private sector by allotting certain
portions of the National Transmission Grid.
Ref: ultramega5