Among the top companies keen on setting up the thermal plant on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis, through tariff-based international competitive bidding, are Larsen and Toubro, Reliance Power, Essar Power, Sterlite and Tata Power, besides others.

While a total of 13 power companies have bid for the project, two Spanish power companies have also evinced keen interest in setting up the project, with one bidding in consortium with local power companies.

Sources say financial and technical bids by those who have bid would be checked by a special panel set up by the Punjab State Electricity Board to determine the eligible bidders by end of April this year.

The “request for qualification” (RFQ) bids by the said power companies was opened today by the members of the evaluation committee constituted by the PSEB.

The RFQ for selection of developers for the Rajpura power project was issued on January 18 and later the PSEB also held a bidders’ conference in Chandigarh to hardsell the power project. At least 25 power companies attended the bidders’ conference, while only 13 actually bid.

Among the other power companies who have sent their RFQ documents while bidding include Lanco Infratech, Gujarat Pagothan Energy (of CLP group), Bhilwara Energy, Indiabulls Power projects, Consortium of JSW and IDFC and Consortium of Sitat Estates, OCL India and KFK Energy Ventures.

Besides, Spanish power company Union Femosa International has also bid for the power plant, along with another Spanish power company, Isolux Corsan, which has bid in consortium with Amco Energy and Shyam Cell.

Incidentally, many of the companies which have bid for the Rajpura thermal plant have also bid for the Talwandi power plant, where the final selection of the bidder would be done sometime in June.