KSEB Cleared to Procure 500 MW Power Under SHAKTI Scheme

23 Jun 2025 CW Team

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has received regulatory clearance to initiate the bidding process for the procurement of 500 megawatts (MW) of round-the-clock (RTC) power, using coal allocated under the central government’s SHAKTI scheme. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has approved several key deviations proposed by KSEB in the model bidding documents issued by the Union Power Ministry.

These deviations pertain to the request for qualification, request for proposal, and power supply agreement, enabling KSEB to proceed with the tendering process for long-term power procurement over 25 years.

The coal linkage was granted to Kerala last year under Part B (iv) of the Ministry of Coal’s SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) programme, which provides for fresh coal allocations to States for new power purchase agreements. Kerala has secured coal from the IB Field and Talcher Field, both operated by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd.

Earlier this year, the State government approved the appointment of Central public sector undertaking PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) as the transaction advisor for managing the procurement process. The major deviations approved by KSERC include changes to the delivery point of power, minimum capacity requirements, the payment security mechanism, the fuel supply agreement, and the method for calculating fixed charges.

With this regulatory green light, KSEB can now move ahead with securing long-term RTC power, enhancing the State’s energy security and supporting stable electricity supply for consumers across Kerala.

Infrastructure Energy

17 Sep 2025

Adani Power To Build 2,400 MW Plant in Bihar

Adani Power on Saturday (September 13, 2025) announced plans to set up a 2,400 MW ultra super-critical power plant in Bihar at an investment of $3 billion (around Rs 26.48 billion).The company has signed a 25-year Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd (BSPGCL) to supply electricity from the project, which will be located at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district.The PSA follows a Letter of Award issued by BSPGCL to Adani Power on behalf of North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (SBPDCL) in August. Adani P..

NTPC Plans Nuclear Power Projects Via JV and Standalone Routes

Power major NTPC is planning to develop nuclear power projects both through joint ventures and on a standalone basis, CMD Gurdeep Singh has said.The company is collaborating with nuclear technology providers and state governments to explore individual nuclear projects, Singh added.Currently, the NTPC Group has an installed capacity of 82,926 MW across 53 NTPC-owned stations and 53 joint venture or subsidiary stations, drawing power from coal, liquid fuel, hydro, and solar sources.In December 2024, Singh had announced NTPC’s ambitious plan to enter the nuclear energy sector, a move expected t..

RVNL Wins $21.6 Million Bhopal Division Traction Substation

Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) has been declared the lowest bidder for a $21.6 million traction substation contract awarded by the West Central Railway.The project covers the design, modification, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of a 220/132kV/2×25kV Scott-connected traction substation, switching posts, Auto-Transformer installations, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems in the Bina–RTA section of the Bhopal Division. The execution period is set at 540 days.In a regulatory filing, RVNL stated that the order was secured in the ordinary course of business and doe..