Bidding for 2 ultra-mega power projects to start next month.

The government will call bids for two domestic coal-based ultra-mega power projects (UMPPs) next month and another two by March next year, according to power secretary PK Pujari.

'We expect to call bids for about four UMPPs before the end of the fiscal,' Pujari said on Tuesday, adding that the UMPPs that could be offered include Bedhabahal in Odisha and Deogarh in Jharkhand.

According to Pujari, the proposed policy for coal supply to power plants is likely to be sent to Cabinet for approval within 15 days. He said state governments will be given more time to give consumers the option of selecting their power suppliers.

The power secretary said that the government is looking at initiating power transmission reforms. 'We will set up electricity transmission projects ahead of power generation plants,' Pujari said.

The signing of agreements with state governments and their power distribution utilities under the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojna is likely to start in two-three weeks, Pujari said.


ET