MePGCL Invites e-Tender for Battery Bank Works at Myntdu Leshka HEP — Infrastructure Modernization in Acidic Hydro Environments

Project Lead: Infrastructure Upgrades at Myntdu Leshka Stage-I

The Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL) has issued a Notice Inviting e-Tender (NIeT) for the procurement and installation of critical electrical infrastructure at the Myntdu Leshka Stage-I Power Station (MLHEP). This tender, identified by Reference Number MePGCL/CE(G)/MLHEP/BATTERY/26, focuses on the replacement and commissioning of battery systems required to maintain operational reliability at the station, which serves as a primary generating facility within the state’s hydro portfolio.

Technical Specifications and Environmental Context

The scope of work is dictated by the specific electrical requirements of the station’s control and excitation architecture. As a facility utilizing a Static Excitation System, the requirement for reliable DC power is paramount for unit stability. Bidders must provide:

• Equipment: 1 (One) set of battery bank and corresponding charger.
• Electrical Specifications: 220V, 1070AH.
• Scope of Services: Complete supply, installation, and commissioning at the project site.

The modernization is necessitated by the harsh environmental conditions at the site. Technical reports within the MePGCL Business Plan indicate that the Myntdu River is acidic in nature due to upstream rat-hole mining. This acidity causes “strong corrosion action” on hydro-mechanical and electrical equipment, accelerating the deterioration of secondary systems and requiring robust Renovation and Modernization (R&M) activities to prevent equipment failure.

Site Profile: Myntdu Leshka Stage-I (MLHEP)

The works will be executed at the MLHEP facility, located in Thamar, Jaintia Hills District. The plant is a Run of the River (ROR) installation with the following technical parameters:

• Capacity: 126 MW (comprising 3 units of 42 MW each).
• Operational Context: MLHEP is one of ten hydro-generating stations operated by MePGCL.
• Institutional Contribution: Based on the Commission’s analysis of effective capacity (which accounts for out-of-service units at the Umtru plant), MePGCL’s present effective installed capacity is 367.50 MW. MLHEP contributes approximately 34.3% of this total effective capacity.

Critical Tender Logistics and Deadlines

All administrative and technical bids must be submitted through the eProcurement System of the Government of Meghalaya.

Regulatory and Business Framework

MePGCL is the successor entity of the unbundled Meghalaya State Electricity Board, established on March 31, 2010. It operates under the legal framework of the Electricity Act 2003, with a mandate for the efficient generation and sale of power.

This specific tender is a component of the capital investment plan approved for the 4th MYT Control Period (FY 2024-25 to FY 2026-27) under Case No 20/2023. The corporation’s current objectives emphasize the renovation and modernization of existing plants to improve performance and maintain grid safety standards despite aging infrastructure and site-specific environmental challenges.