RECPDCL Invites Bids for TSP to Boost Capacity at Lakadia Substation, Gujarat

REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd. (RECPDCL) has issued a single-stage Request for Proposal (RFP) for the selection of a Transmission Service Provider (TSP) through a tariff-based competitive bidding process to establish an inter-state transmission system for augmenting the transformation capacity at the 765/400 kV Lakadia Substation (WRSS XXI(A) Transco Ltd.) in Gujarat-Part-B.

The planned upgrades to the Lakadia Substation include the installation of two 500 MVA, 400/220 kV Interconnecting Transformers (ICTs) and associated bays. The completion timeline for these enhancements is set at 18 months from the date of allocation.

As per the tender, the project will involve the implementation of multiple 220 kV line bays for various power producers, such as TEQ Green Power and Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel amongst others, with expected completion dates ranging from September 2026 to December 2027.

These developments come as applications for connectivity at the Lakadia Substation have surged, following the Government of Gujarat's decision to allow all Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) and Intra-State Transmission System (In-STS) connected renewable energy projects.

It may be noted that the cumulative renewable energy connectivity at Lakadia has now reached 3,500 MW under the Grid Connection Network Access (GNA), enabling the evacuation of power beyond 1 GW, scaling up to 3.5 GW from various Renewable Energy Generating Stations (REGS).

Through this competitive bidding process, RECPDCL aims to select a bidder who will undertake the project on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis. Interested parties are invited to submit their bids online by 3:00 PM IST on November 22, 2024, with the technical bids being opened shortly thereafter.

To participate, bidders must purchase the RFP document, available from RECPDCL from September 18 to November 21, 2024, for a non-refundable fee of INR 5,00,000 or USD 7,000 plus GST.

The RFP emphasises transparency, requiring bidders to submit a Pre-Award Integrity Pact as part of the bidding process. Furthermore, within ten days from the date of issue of the Letter of Intent, the Selected Bidder, on behalf of the TSP, is required to provide the Nodal Agency with a Contract Performance Guarantee amounting to INR 25.5 Crore.

This guarantee must be initially valid for a period of three months after the Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the project and should be extended accordingly. The guarantee can be issued by any bank listed in Annexure-17, and if the Selected Bidder is unable to obtain the total amount from one bank, they may procure it from no more than three banks specified in the same annexure.

This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the transmission capabilities of the region and support India's broader goals of sustainable energy development and improved infrastructure. Interested bidders are encouraged to review the RFP in detail and consider participating in this pivotal opportunity for India's energy sector.