Leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors Siemens, Reliance EPC and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have refrained from submitting bids for EPC contract for the 740 MW gas-based power project by ONGC Tripura Power Corporation (OTPC). Though these Companies picked up EPC bid, they kept themselves away from its submission. OTPC received bids only from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) and Alstom.
FE had reported in November 2007 that OPTC had extended the EPC submission period till December as it wanted participation from more players. The company would need at least a month or two to evaluate these bids. The cost of the power plant has been estimated at around Rs 2,265 crore. The company has estimated that the project would be commissioned by 2011. OTPC sources told FE "The sucessful bidder will have to sign a long term spares and services contract to hamper functioning of the power project for want of spares and services. In order to maximize the efficiency of the machine and minimize the gas consumption, latest state-of-the-art technology Advanced Class Machines (ACM) would be deployed for the generation project, which would comprise the latest Frame-IX (or equivalent) gas turbines.These machines have a conversion efficiency of 57-58% (ISO conditions) as compared to 35% for many of the gas-fired power plants operating in the North East. This results in lower consumption of gas per unit of energy output and hence reduces the variable cost of generation. "
According to sources, the OTPC finalised the generation capacity of 740 MW after a detailed Transportation Logistic Study. It was carried out as the transportation infrastructure in North-Eastern sector is not developed much considering the requirements of transportation of heavy power plant equipment during construction phase. OTPC had identified this problem at a very early stage of the project itself and as a pre-emptive action completed the study. All major heavy and large size equipments would be transported by waterways from Kolkata to Karimganj / Badarpur in lower Assam - passing through Bangladesh and subsequently by roadways from there to the project site at Pallatana.
Source: The financial Express
19th February, 2008