Patna, Jan. 24: With Nitish Kumar donning the mantle of the state for the second consecutive term, things have started moving at a fast pace vis-à-vis strengthening of the power sector.

The government has decided to purchase 1,050MW power from open market to meet the state’s energy requirement in the short span of time as the commissioning of new power plants would take time because of their long gestation period.

Energy department principal secretary Ravikant told The Telegraph: “The government has recently floated tenders to purchase power from the open market on long-term (for 25 years) purchase power agreement.”

“We are exploring all possible routes to strengthen the power sector and consider the request for proposal (RFP) submitted by the interested parties,” he said, adding that the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission has already given a go-ahead to the proposal.

Asked how many applications it has received so far, sources in Bihar State Electricity Board said: “We have just a week ago invited applications. It will take some time as the board will accept the applications till the end of February and hence there is plenty of time left.”

The board had planned to purchase 1,500MW of electricity under Case-I bidding in which the board would purchase power from open market on long-term agreement.

Under Case-I bidding, the board has, so far, signed power purchase agreement with Essar Power Jharkhand Ltd (EPJL) for supply of 450MW of electricity from its 1,200MW coal-based Tori I power project located in Latehar district of Jharkhand.