The Rajasthan Government has scrapped tenders worth Rs 12,000 crore that were bagged by Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) more than a year ago for two separate thermal power projects in the state.
Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUN), a State Government company, has scrapped EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) tenders for the upcoming new super critical units of Suratgarh and Chhabra thermal power stations, sources said.
RVUN cancelled the separate tenders floated for two 660 MW units — each for Suratgarh and Chhabra, respectively, without specifying any particular reasons, they added.
When contacted, BHEL officials said that no reasons have been assigned by RVUN for cancelling the tenders and the company was trying to get in touch with RUVN for ascertaining the same.
The sources said that Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) had emerged as the lowest bidder for the Rs 12,000-crore worth tenders. The second lowest bidder was BGR Energy.
Calls and messages to RUVN Chairman and Managing Director, Mr P.N. Singhal, did not elicit any response. BGR Energy could not be reached for comments.
The cancellation letters were sent on April 25, 2012.
Order book
The development comes at a time when BHEL is grappling with slowdown in its order book. Owing to an overall sluggishness in the power sector, the company’s order book more than halved to Rs 22,096 crore last fiscal compared to 2010=11 period.
According to sources, even though the tenders were finalised in January 2011, RUVN initiated price negotiations with BHEL only in January this year. There were also extensive discussions between the two parties on price, the sources added.
When the tenders were floated in November 2009 and opened in April 2010, there were three bidders — BHEL, BGR and Russia’s Power Machines.
Global competitive bids
RUVN had invited international competitive bids for the two projects. The tenders were for design, engineering, manufacture, assembly, testing at works, supply, civil structural and architectural works, erection, testing and commissioning of main plant and balance of plant on EPC basis.
Scrapping of the tenders would delay the setting up of two projects — having a total capacity of 2,640 MW — in Rajasthan, which is grappling with power shortage. At present, RUVN has an installed capacity of 4,097.35 MW.