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 its efforts to transform the power sector and are 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, Union Power Secretary R V Shahi told reporters on Wednesday.State governments should take up such projects with lesser capacities through competitive bidding process, Shahi said. The Power Ministry has convinced all States to invite expressions of interest (EoI) based on competitive tariffs for the development of projects with 1,000 MW to 2,000 MW in their respective states. States are expected to invite EoIs in the next four to five weeks.“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,”he said.Moreover, the ministry proposes to open up the transmission sector for the private sector by alloting certain portions of the National Transmission Grid.35,000 mw to be addedMUMBAI: India’s power generation capacity, currently at 1,23,000 MW, will rise by 35,000 MW by end of 10th Plan. Although the capacity adition of 35,000 MW is less than the target of 41,000 MW for the whole of 10th plan, Power Secretary RV Shahi said it will be an 87 per cent target achievement.
