Shimla: Ship building company, ABG Shipyard, has come out on top in global bidding for three hydropower projects in Himachal, with other two projects being bagged by Calcutta Electric Supply Company and Chandigarh based Surya Pharmaceutical, government sources disclosed.
The new term bids for five projects with a generation potential of 496 MW, which were invited a year ago, were opened recently, an official from the power department disclosed.
For three projects – Rashil 102 MW, Tandi 104 MW and Bardang 126 MW, all located in high altitude valley of Lahaul, ABG Shipyard out bid other competitors.
Shedding the earlier policy of inviting upfront money per MW of generation capacity, the Prem Kumar Dhumal government last year had affected changes by allotting new projects on the basis of additional free power offered by the bidding company beyond the royalty power demanded for handing over the project site.
ABG Shipyard has offered to pay 8.10 % additional power for Rashil project, 11.10% more power for Tandi project and 10.10% extra power for Bardang project, the government source said.
For the 104 MW Lara Sumta project, also in Lahaul valley, Calcutta Electric Supply Company out bid others by offering 10.54% extra free power after the plant starts generating electricity.
The highest offer of free power was made by Chandigarh based Surya Pharmaceutical, who have bid to give 12.60 % free power to Himachal government for the 60 MW Patam project in Spiti valley, the official said.
In all there were 13 bidders for the 5 projects, which included Larsen & Tuboro, Moser Baer and Himachal Power Corporation.
The free power offered by the bid winning company’s for each project is over the 12 percent free power that has be given as royalty for the first 12 years, which increases to 18 % till 30 years of the plant life and goes upto 30 % for the next ten years.
The project sites are offered for 40 years of generation period after which the ownership passes to the state government.
While the larger projects are allotted on basis of global bidding process, the government is offering smaller projects with a generation capacity upto 5 MW to local entrepreneurs.
Himachal has an identified hydropower potential of 20,416 MW of which only 6,419 stands harnessed.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
Whoever wins the bidding will surely get a great ROI.
i have 3 year diploma in electrical engg from govt polytecnic hamirpur a nd i wanted job in hydro power plant