India

India may change bidding rules for new 4,000 Mw power projects to allow companies to adjust tariffs in case a change in regulations makes fuel imports costlier.

ONGC is exploring investment opportunities in the nuclear power generation sector in association with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.

GE Energy and Greenko Group formed a venture where US $115 million will be invested to set up wind power projects of 500 megawatt capacity in India.

Star Hydro Power has secured a $97m loan from the Asian Development Bank to finance the construction of a 144MW hydro power plant in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.

The country’s largest thermal power producer NTPC may soon appoint Deloitte as a consultant on revamping its operations and human resources development. “NTPC is likely to appoint Deloitte as a consultant for preparing its restructuring plans, which would include the company’s new mining plans, manpower management, etc,” a Power Ministry official said. Deloitte is believed to have made a presentation to the company on taking up the job, which would also involve an analysis of the proposed restructuring of NTPC joint ventures— including NTPC-SAIL Power Company Ltd, NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Ltd, Ratnagiri Gas & Power Ltd, NTPC-Alstom Power Services Ltd, NTPC-SCCL Global Ventures Ltd, International Coal Ventures Ltd and NTPC BHEL Power Projects Pvt Ltd— the official added. NTPC plans to expand its existing power capacity of over 35,000 Mw to about 66,000 Mw by 2017. The company planned to raise its capacity to 75,000 MW by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17), but it had to curtail the target due to non-availability of gas and coal and land acquisition issues. NTPC currently employs approximately 26,000 people. It will seek the consultant’s advice on streamlining its present workforce and how to make the best use of manpower. The consultant would also advice the company on its coal mining venture. NTPC has been awarded coal blocks and is expected to start excavation from those blocks in the near-term. Meanwhile, NTPC has signed a preliminary agreement with Birla Institute of Management & Technology (BIMTECH) to jointly explore opportunities related to capacity building, institution development and training and development programmes with a view to strengthen ties between industry and educational institutes.

New Delhi received up to 1,000 MW less power recently leading to load shedding in many areas.

BHEL has again secured a thermal power plant contract from Dainik Bhaskar Power Limited.

Punj Lloyd Group has won the contract for the first polysilicon plant of Qatar. The contract has been awarded by Qatar Solar Technologies.  It is scheduled to be commissioned by mid-2013.

IPPs in Andhra Pradesh generate and supply about 300-330 Mw more to the State grid through additional gas supply of 1.5 mmscmd, partially boosting the power capacity in the State.

The Ministry of Coal had asked NTPC for the progress report on the coal blocks, including the development of the end-use plants for which the mines were allocated.

India's President Pratibha Patil empahsized that nuclear energy was an essential element of India’s national energy basket.

The World Bank has approved US$172 million credit for Bangladesh to support installation of an additional 630,000 solar home systems and other renewable energy mini-grid schemes.

ADB will invest $750 million for power transmission systems that will help India efficiently transfer electricity to regions where the need is greatest.

ADB is providing loans of up to $350 million for transmission system upgrades to help the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh take greater advantage of its vast hydropower resources.

ABB has won an order worth $71 million from Steel Authority of India Limited to supply a substation package for its Bhilai Steel Plant located in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

With a string of problems preventing the timely commissioning of the 44 MW Chutak hydro electric project, NHPC has lashed out at BHEL for its laid back attitude and failure to take adequate action regarding critical activities for the project.