In its latest meeting, National Committee on Transmission (NCT) has recommended interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes, with an estimated cost of over Rs.22,000 crore, to the Union power ministry for final clearance.
A total of ten ISTS schemes, with an aggregate cost of Rs.22,737 crore, were deliberated upon. Of these, seven schemes (estimated aggregate cost: Rs.9,399 crore) will be developed under the TBCB (tariff-based competitive bidding) mode, while three (estimated aggregate cost: Rs.13,338 crore) will take the RTM (regulated tariff mechanism) route.
TBCB schemes
Each of the seven TBCB schemes has an estimated outlay over Rs.500 crore. This being so, these schemes will need final approval from the Union power ministry before the bidding process begins.
The largest of the seven schemes is that envisaging augmentation of the Kurnool-III pooling station in Karnataka. This project is expected to cost Rs.2,886 crore and have PFC Consulting Ltd has its bid process coordinator.
The remaining six schemes include: RE feeder scheme for pumped storage plants in Maharashtra; augmentation of Bhuj-II pooling station in Gujarat; evacuation system for Mahan Energen power plant in Madhya Pradesh; augmentation of Lakadia substation in Gujarat; evacuation system for Raghanesda RE park in Gujarat; and, evacuation system for Ratle and Kiru hydropower projects in UT of J&K (Part A).
RTM schemes
Two mega transmission schemes concerning with evacuation of upcoming offshore wind energy farms in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been recommended for development under the RTM route, with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) as the implementing agency. These schemes have been discussed in detail in T&D India’s story dated June 20, 2024. (Also see Editor’s Note at the end of this story)
The third scheme on RTM basis is “Transmission System for Ratle HEP (850 MW) and Kiru HEP (624 MW): Part B” and is estimated to cost Rs.196 crore. As the project cost is less than Rs.500 crore, NCT’s approval is sufficient with no final approval required from the Union power ministry. The implementing agency for this project is understood to be the developer to be selected under the TBCB route for “Part A” of the same scheme.
ISTS communication schemes
Apart from these aforementioned ten ISTS schemes, NCT also gave final approval to seven communication projects associated with existing ISTS schemes. Communication projects usually entail laying of OPGW (optical fibre ground wire) and/or installation of FOTE (fibe optic testing equipment). These seven schemes entailed a total cost of around Rs.12 crore and were predominantly awarded to PGCIL on RTM basis.
Also read: ISTS-TBCB Report Card For Q1FY25: Three Awarded, None Completed
Editor’s Note: NCT had earlier planned to set up 1 GW of evacuation infrastructure offshore Tamil Nadu. T&D India’s story of June 20, 2024 reported accordingly. However, in the latest NCT meeting, this was revised to 500 MW in the first phase. The remaining 500 MW is to be taken up later. The estimated cost of the Tamil Nadu evacuation scheme now stands at Rs.6,242 crore, as against Rs.11,485 crore earlier. The plan of setting up 500 GW evacuation offshore Gujarat remains unchanged.
