NEW DELHI, November 12: A host of leading power companies, including GEC Alsthom, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), General Electric Private Systems India Limited and Tata-Tennessee Valley Authority (Tata-TVA) are in the race to join hands with the Indian power major, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for its proposed Renovation and Modernisation (R&M) joint venture.

NTPC chairman and managing director Rajendra Singh said the corporation will soon shortlist the potential companies for the joint venture.

He said NTPC is going to float the Request for Qualification (RFQ) document this month for shortlisting the eligible partners. National Thermal Power Corporation will then invite these companies to make indepth presentations on the technologies and services they can offer for refurbishing power stations in the country.

According to sources in NTPC, unlike the R&M joint venture of Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) with Siemens, NTPC is considering to have consortium partners for its R&M joint venture.

Explaining the strategy behind the consortium approach, sources said a leader in equipment manufacturing may not necessarily have the experience of undertaking R&M jobs. "The consortium approach will help NTPC in selecting an internationally recognised leader in the engineering construction and other related equipment for power plants and at the same time getting another partner who has the work experience for R&M jobs," sources said. "We are open to the consortium approach as we want to get the best hands for the joint venture. After a final selection of the partners is made, it will go to the NTPC's board for approval", Singh said.

Sources said Tata-TVA, which is already a joint venture of Tata's and the USA based largest power utility, Tennessee Valley Authority, is a likely consortium partner along with a leading equipment manufacturer.

TVA, USA, has already undertaken R&M work of 59 thermal units worldwide.

In India it has undertaken renovation work of DVB-Chadanpur power station along with Trombay unit of Tatas.

It is also eyeing the Renovation & Modernisation projects of Maharashtra State Electricity Board and Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board.

While three companies, including ABB, Tata TVA and Power Plant Performance Improvement , the joint venture of BHEL and Siemens AG, are undertaking refurbishment jobs for power stations in India, more power companies have evinced interest before the nodal ministry for entering the R&M sector.

Babcock and Wilcox of US is one such company which has approached the minister for power YK Alagh for undertaking the rennovation and modernisation work of the Indraprastha power station of the Delhi Vidyut Board. Besides this, during the recent visit of the power minister to Hongkong and Canada, many foreign companies like Sargant and Lundy, Midwest, Powergen, Mitsbushi, Southern Energy Inc and some others have also expressed a keen interest for investing in the country's power sector.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.