New Delhi, Sept 23: With a view to open price bids next month, national thermal power corporation will begin discussions with four bidders, including reliance industries, for supplying three million tonnes of LNG. "We are finalising the schedule for holding consultations with individual bidders... We are hoping to open the price bids by the end of next month," NTPC chairman and managing director C P Jain told newspersons.


Three multinationals -- Petronas of Malaysia, Royal/Dutch Shell and Yemen LNG -- had qualified for supply of 3 million tonnes lng a year for 17 years while the domestic major Reliance Industries (RIL) too cleared the technical hurdle for supply of 4.14 billion cubic meters natural gas for NTPC's Kawas and Gandhar power projects in Gujarat.

Jain confirmed that NTPC would pick upto 26 per cent stake in the joint venture for importing LNG.

NTPC has decided to set up the gas-based projects of 1300 mw each only at Kawas and Gandhar, while putting on hold two locations of Anta and Auriya.

Earlier, NTPC had proposed to set up gas-based power plants at Kawas and Gandhar (in Gujarat), Anta (in Rajasthan) and Auraiya (in Uttar Pradesh) of 650 mw each.

"Anta and Auraiya will be reviewed subsequently depending upon the overall economic activity and the transportation cost at a later date after LNG supply in India is established," Jain had earlier said.
NTPC is also planning to expand its Kayamkulam power station (in Kerala) from existing 350 mw to 1950 mw, for which the corporation is planning to invite separate bids.

Bureau Report