The government on Friday said it is open to accommodating more suggestions from stakeholders on new bidding documents for power projects to make the process more comprehensive. Talking to the media on the sidelines of a research and development conclave in New Delhi, Power minister M Veerppa Moily said the standard bidding documents, SBDs, are being finalized and his ministry will deliberate on suggestions and comments.

As per the provisional SBDs, there would be no change in bidding norms for power projects based on imported coal. This clause is said to possibly hurt the interests of the private power producers building these projects as the imported coal has become costlier. Mr. Moily said the allegations that SBDs are destructive and more intrusive are false. He said the government would rectify if there is any apprehension in this regard.

Mr. Moily also said that power companies can sign Fuel Supply Agreements, FSAs, with Coal India Limited even if there is no Power Purchase Agreements, PPAs with distribution companies.
AIR correspondent reports, the Prime Minister’s Office, PMO, had last week directed power companies facing coal shortage to sign FSAs with Coal India by the end of next month. Mr. Moily said the process of signing FSAs is right on track as per the direction by the PMO. He said all the issues related to signing of FSAs with Coal Ministry have been sorted.