The change in the EPC contract, sources here disclose, has been prompted by long delay in taking concrete steps in putting up the project, estimated to cost Rs 3,000 crore.

Due to the change (in the contractor) the company is now busy in preparing the revised project report as all the previous parameters have now changed. The equipment configurations of the project has changed due to the change (in the EPC contractor) and sources say that it may also result in some cost reduction.

Sources said the government will forward the revised project report to the CEA (central electricity authority) after it is received. The CEA will then accord its techno-economic clearance to the report.

Only recently the power ministry hadcalled a meeting of the RPG representatives and officials of the State government and RSEB to review the project. It was at the meeting that the RPG group informed the ministry that the EPC contractor had been changed.

The project, to be based on naphtha, has been considerably delayed. Sources said that once the revised project report is approved the RPG group will go ahead in putting up the same.