PFC gears up to bid out 2nd UMPP in AP

Now that the site for the second UMPP in Andhra Pradesh has at long last been finalized by the CEA, PFC has initiated efforts to award out the power project for development via the tariff-based competitive bidding route. 

• The nodal agency has almost met the first prerequisite, of obtaining the state's approval for the issue of Request for Qualification (RfQ) for the UMPP, in the form of Section 4 (1) notification by the state government for acquisition of the 726.15 acres of private land for the construction of the UMPP in November 2010. Besides, PFC's application for transfer of 253.79 acres of government land is under consideration of the state government authorities. 
• It has also applied to the Infrastructure and Investment Department of the state to permit the use of sea water for project to comply with the second pre-requite for the RfQ.
• However, no progress has been registered by PFC on meeting the third condition for RfQ, that is, the preparation of Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (REIA) report, though the site-specific studies, namely the topographic and socio-economic surveys are expected to start by the end of this month.
• Pertinently, the UMPP is due to be constructed at Nayunipalli in Prakasham district of the Southern state, while the first UMPP in the state is being constructed at Krishnapatnam in the Nellore district by Reliance Power.