NTPC to Kick Off Lara Project, Floats Bid for Cooling Water System

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--In a bid to expedite execution of its long-stalled Lara Super Thermal Power Project, India's state-owned power producer NTPC Limited (BSE:532555) (New Delhi, India) has floated tenders for the cooling water (CW) system in the project's 1,600-megawatt (MW) first stage. The execution of the project has been delayed due to land and forest clearances.

NTPC has so far released and finalized vendors for almost all major packages, including the main plant contract. However, the awarding of contracts is being held up due to the pending clearances.

Due to be developed in two phases of 1,600 MW and 2,400 MW in the Raigarh district of Chattisgarh, the power station in Lara village will have five supercritical technology-based units of 800 MW each.

According to NTPC, the scope for the contract will involve the design, manufacturing, engineering, inspection and testing of the supplier's work; and the packing, transportation to site, erection, supervision, pre-commissioning-testing, commissioning and performance testing of the CW system package, along with a supply of spares. The major equipment to be supplied includes five CW pumps with associated motors of 44,000 cubic meters (cum) per hour of discharge, operating at 333 rpm; five 2,800-millimeter, electro-hydraulically actuated butterfly valves; two 2,800-millimeter, electrically actuated butterfly valves; air-release valves; a Gantry crane of 60-ton capacity; seal water pumps; drainage pumps; a lubrication water system; station auxiliary cooling water pumps; and makeup water system components.

To qualify for this package, as per the pre-conditions laid down by NTPC for this contract, a bidder should have designed, constructed and commissioned at least two vertical wet pit pumps or two concrete or metallic volute pumps with concrete encasement for a condenser cooling water application of 44,000 cum per hour capacity or above. The system should be in successful operation for at least two years prior to the date of the techno-commercial bid opening for the offered package.

Additionally, in terms of financial standards, the average annual turnover of the bidder, in the preceding three financial years, should not be less than $2.7 million, and net worth should not be less than 25% of the paid-up share capital. The bid documents will be available for sale until January 25, 2013. The last date of submission of bids for this package is February 28, 2013. The power project will be entitled to "deemed export benefits" on the purchase of goods and equipment, under India's mega-power policy.

Coal requirement for Lara-I, STPP project has been estimated at 7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at 90% PLF, considering average Gross Calorific Value of 4,200 kcal per kg. The requirement of coal will be met from Talaipalli coal block in the Mand-Raigarh coalfields area in Chhattisgarh.

About 2,375 acres of land would be required for setting up the first stage of the project. The government of Chhattisgarh has approved drawl of 45 MCM per annum from the Saradih barrage on the Mahanadi River to meet the water requirements for the project.

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