APGenco invites gas project bids

The Financial Express, Mumbai


Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Company (APGenco), which has launched a capacity addition programme of 4,053-mw, has invited competitive bids for 2,100-mw gas-based project at Karimnagar. The project, which entails an investment of Rs 5,520 crore, would be implemented through a SPV�Andhra Pradesh Power Development Company�which is a joint venture of APGenco and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (ILFS).

The combined cycle power plant would consist of three blocks of 700 mw each. The upcoming project would need around 9.72 million standard cubic meter per day (of gas). Sources told FE, the project is expected to be commissioned in the 11th Plan period. The bidder should be a gas turbine manufacturer who has manufactured, supplied and commissioned at least two gas turbines, each of at least 95% ISO rating of the offered gas turbine model which is in operation.

The bidder should have at least $500 million average annual turnover in the past three years. However, ApGenco in a clarificatory note has said �It is not mandatory for the applicants to have experience of $500 million for project with similar nature and complexity in the last five years.� Sources said the developer can source gas from the Krishna Godavari basin so that the per unit tariff can become competitive.

Besides the Karimnagar project, the list of other projects being undertaken by APGenco include Rayalseema stage II (420 mw), Vijaywada stage IV (500 mw), Kakatiya (500 mw ), Krishnapatnam (1,600 mw), Priyadarshini Jurla hydro (234 mw), Nagarjunasagar Tali Pond dam power house (50 mw), Pochampad (9 mw), KTPS stage VI (500 mw) and Lower Jurala (240 mw). The company also proposes to implement Pranahita hydro project with the capacity of 188 mw.

APGenco�s installed capacity was 6,550.9 mw comprising 2,962.50 mw thermal, 3,586.4 mw hydro and 2 mw wind power stations, and contributes about half the total energy requirement of Andhra Pradesh. APGenco is third largest power generating utility in the country next to NTPC and Maharashtra. Its installed hydro capacity is 3,586.4 mw.