Tenders to float for 2 power plants by month-end

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is likely to float tenders for the 1,600 MW Uppur and 800 MW North Chennai stage III supercritical thermal power plants by this month end.With the model code of conduct in force for the June 27 R.K. Nagar Assembly bypoll, the Election Commission has given clearance for the floating of bid for the Uppur project while withholding approval for North Chennai project. “We have written to them to give clearance for the North Chennai project as well. Though the project is named as North Chennai, it falls in Tiruvallur district,” a senior Tangedco official said.

The official said if the Commission gave approval for North Chennai project, tenders would be floated for both the projects. “If not, we will go ahead to float the tender for the Uppur project first and later on North Chennai after the elections,” the official said. The consultants Desein for the Uppur and Layman for North Chennai Stage III had made available the tender specification document for floating the engineering procurement construction (EPC) contract, he said.

Tangedco sources said that it is likely to follow the Central Electricity Authority’s phased manufacturing programme norm which encourages indigenous manufacturing of thermal technology for Uppur and North Chennai Stage III projects as well. “We are hopeful of awarding work contract in November for both the projects,” sources said. The 2X800 mw Uppur thermal power plant would be built at a cost of Rs 9,600 crore in Tiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram district. While the 1X800 mw North Chennai Stage III would come up in 190 acres available in the existing NCTPS plant site itself at a cost of Rs4,800 crore. “For both the projects, we have completed the public hearings and it is in the advanced stage of obtaining environmental clearance,” the official said, adding that the two projects have also got coal linkages.

Meanwhile, Tangedco commenced preliminary works on the 660 MW Ennore Thermal Power Station Replacement Power project and the stage II and stage III of Udangudi Supercritical TPS project. The Ennore Replacement project envisages replacing the existing 450 MW power plant with 660 MW. The official said that environmental studies are underway for the power project. “We are going to appoint consultant  to prepare Marine Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Impact Management plan reports for the stage II (2X660 MW) and stage III (2X660 MW) of Udangudi power project. Negotiations are underway to appoint the consultant,” the sources said.