PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL), in its capacity as bid process coordinator (BPC), has incorporated a project special purpose vehicle (SPV) for developing an intrastate transmission scheme in Uttar Pradesh.
According to a PFCCL stock exchange filing, the project SPV, incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFCCL, has been named “Tirwa Transmission Ltd.” and will be responsible for developing an intrastate transmission scheme in Uttar Pradesh, on Build, Own, Operate & Transfer (BOOT) basis.
The transmission scheme is officially termed as “Construction of 220/132/33kV Tirwa (Kannauj) substation with associated lines and LILO of one circuit of 400kV D/C (Twin Moose) Shamli-Aligarh line at THDC 2×660 mw Khurja Power Plant.”
PFCCL will select the developer of this scheme using the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism. “Tirwa Transmission Ltd” will subsequently be transferred to the successful bidder.
It may be mentioned that PFCCL emerged as the BPC for this project, based on a letter of intent issued upon PFCCL by state transmission utility UP Transmission Corporation Ltd (UPPTCL), in November 2022.
Project scope
According to information available with T&D India but not part of the PFCCL filing, the project involves mainly the construction of a 220/132/33kV substation at Tirwa (Kannauj) with a total transformation capacity of 446 MVA (2×160 MVA + 2×63 MVA). The substation is expected to commission within 18 months from the transfer of project SPV to the successful bidder. The project will also include a LILO of one circuit of the 400kV double-circuit Shamli-Aligarh line at THDC’s 2×660-mw Khurja thermal power plant. The LILO is expected to commission in seven months.
It is reliably learnt that two bidders – Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) – are in the final leg of the bidder selection process.
Also read: PFCCL Transfers Two Project SPVs To Adani Transmission
Project Rationale
According to the bidding documents, the objective of this transmission scheme is to improve the power supply and voltage profile in the Tirwa area of Kannauj district, Uttar Pradesh. At present, Kannauj district is being fed at 33kV level from the 220/132/33kV Chhibramu, 132/33kV Kannauj and 132/33kV Talgram substations. In turn, the Kannauj and Talgram substations are fed at 132kV level from the 220kV Chibramu substation, and in times of contingency, from the 220kV Neebkarori substation. At present, both these 220kV substations are overloaded. Due the excessive long 33kV lines in Tirwa area, the problem of low voltage and overloading persists, especially in summer. In order to overcome this problem, a new 220/132/33kV substation (2×160 MVA + 2×63 MVA), along with few associated lines, have been proposed.
The LILO discussed in the project scope is for power evacuation from THDC’s 2×660-mw Khurja thermal power plant. Uttar Pradesh is entitled to 60 per cent of the power generated from this power plant.
Featured photograph (source: MPPTCL) is for representation only.