Coal linkage: KSERC nod for changes in bidding papers
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will now be able to go ahead with the bidding process for procuring 500 megawatts (MW) round-the-clock (RTC) power using coal allocated under the Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India (SHAKTI). The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has approved a set of deviations proposed by the KSEB in the model bidding documents issued by the Union Power Ministry related to the request for qualification, request for proposal, and the power supply agreement.
The Centre had allocated the coal linkage to Kerala under Part B (iv) of the Union Coal Ministry's SHAKTI scheme last year. Para B (iv) of the scheme provides for the allocation of coal linkages for fresh power purchase agreements to States. Kerala has been allocated coal from the IB Field and Talcher Field of Coal India-subsidiary MCL Coal Company.
Earlier this year, the State government had given its nod for appointing Central PSU PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) as the transactional advisor for the long-term procurement of power for a 25 years. Major deviations proposed by the KSEB were related to the delivery point of power, minimum capacity, payment security mechanism, fuel supply agreement and calculation of fixed charges.
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