The second round of coal auction under the Shakti-B scheme may see far fewer bidders than the first one held in 2017 because of an exclusion criterion. Analysts see power utilities with combined capacity of 407 MW could place their bids for coal in the forthcoming Shakti-B second round, which is just 5% of 8,440 MW capacity that vied for fuel in 2017.
KSK Mahanadi’s (Akaltara plant), Adani Power’s Tiroda and Kawai plants, GVK’s Goindwal plant and GMR’s Kamalanga unit, Bajaj Power, Adhunik Power, ACB and Inland Power had participated in the first round. All these players will not be eligible to participate in the second round to secure the balance fuel requirement.
Industry sources said the bidders participated in the auction thinking that it will only be a one-time process wherein the maximum allocable quantity would be restricted to 80% of maximum eligible quantity of all eligible bidders.
