Mumbai, Nov. 10 -- The West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) has started the environmental assessment process for a proposed 800 MW super-critical or ultra-super-critical unit at the Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station. The project is estimated to require an investment of around Rs. 100.7 bn.
WBPDCL has invited bids to appoint a consultant for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study and related services for Unit 6. The deadline for submitting bids is November 17, after which the corporation will evaluate the technical and financial offers before awarding the contract.
The proposed unit will be developed by WBPDCL as part of the state's power-generation expansion plans. Officials have indicated that construction could be completed within four to five years, although the project remains at a preliminary stage and is currently focused on selecting the consultant for the environmental study.
The EIA is expected to take about six months from the date of contract award. It will examine the proposed unit's environmental implications and support subsequent approvals and development decisions. The supplied information does not identify whether the final technology will be super-critical or ultra-super-critical.
Bakreshwar has been selected as the site for the proposed Unit 6. Details of the project's fuel arrangements, land requirement, emissions-control systems and water-use plans have not been disclosed. The investment estimate places the proposal among West Bengal's major planned power-sector projects, but it has not yet reached the construction stage.
The immediate milestone is the November 17 bid submission deadline, followed by evaluation and appointment of the EIA consultant. The study's findings, regulatory approvals and later procurement and construction decisions will determine how the proposed unit progresses. The planned completion period will be assessed against the outcome of these preliminary stages.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.