In a change of stance, Enron-promoted Dabhol Power Company (DPC) on Friday, urged the Maharashtra state Electricity Board (MSEB) to resume offtake of power and also agreed to accept the Board's "under protest" bills.
DPC president Neil Mcgregor along with representatives of the multinational's, both domestic and foreign lenders, met MSEB chief Vinay Bansal on Friday, and tried to persuade the Board to commence drawing power from the USD three billion project's 740 mw phase one, official sources said.
MSEB had stopped drawing power from DPC since May 29.
"DPC officials also expressed their readiness to accept MSEB's protest payments without any pre-conditions and also asked for payment of the pending Rs 134 crore April and Rs 140 crore May bills", they said.
MSEB officials told Mcgregor and the lenders that the payments for April and May were already adjusted in the Rs 1,200 crore claim made by the board in its petition filed against DPC at the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).
With reference to drawing of power, Bansal made it clear to the US energy major that as per the commission's order, the Board would have to buy "costly" power as a last alternative.
Mcgregor also handed over a two-page letter pleading the same to Bansal, the sources said.
Bureau Report
