PowerGrid eyes Philippines project

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PowerGrid Corporation is among the five firms which has filed pre-qualification bids for the $3.2 billion Philippines’ transmission system.

The other bidders include StateGrid of China, S&C of Canada, Terna of Italy and

Tenega of Malaysia. Philippine would select the pre-qualified bidders on October 12, and would propose to hand over the transmission system to the successful bidder by the end of December.

While PowerGrid is in the midst of completion of a 37,000 km long inter-regional transmission National grid in India, StateGrid of China’s core business is to build and operate power grids, provide secure and reliable power supply for the development of the society.

S&C Canada specialises in high voltage switching and protection products. Italy’s Terna owns more than 35,000 km of transmission network and Tenega is leading research and development company in Malaysia. Informed sources told FE, “The race is narrowed down on these five companies and the Philippines government will shortlist pre-qualified bidders on October 12. PowerGrid is certainly hopeful to win this bid.” The visiting Philippines president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday, had announced that the government has already initiated moves to privatise generation and transmission.

Meanwhile, due to political instability in Nepal and Bangladesh, PowerGrid may not pursue any projects there.

“In Nepal, the authorities wanted PowerGrid Corporation to help in strengthening its transmission network. However, its seems impossible due to resumption of agitation by Maoists. Similarly, there has been political instability in the neighbouring Bangladesh where PowerGrid may not be eager to bid for any project in the transmission sector.”