Adani Transmission Acquires Alipurduar Transmission From Kalpataru

Adani Transmission has signed definitive agreements with Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd for acquiring Alipurduar Transmission for around Rs 1,286 crore.

Adani Transmission Ltd (ATL), one of India’s largest private sector power transmission companies, has signed definitive agreements with Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (KPTL) for acquiring Alipurduar Transmission Ltd in a manner consistent with Transmission Service Agreement and applicable consents. The Enterprise value for the project is ascribed as Rs 1,286 crore.

The acquisition is expected to be completed in a few months, subject to all necessary regulatory approvals and other consents.

The acquisition is in sync with ATL’s strategy to enhance the value for its stakeholders, through organic as well as inorganic opportunities. With this acquisition, the cumulative network of ATL will reach more than 15,400 ckt kms, out of which more than 12,200 ckt kms (including this asset) is operational and more than 3,200 ckt kms is under various stages of execution.

With this scale of operations, the firm will enjoy substantial benefits in terms of cost optimisation, shared resources and will fortify its position of being the largest private sector transmission company in the country.

Anil Sardana, MD & CEO, Adani Transmission Ltd said, “the acquisition of Alipurduar Transmission will bolster the pan-India presence of ATL consolidating its position as the largest private-sector transmission company in India. This asset will take ATL closer to its target of setting up 20,000 ckt km of transmission lines by 2022.”

Alipurduar Transmission operates transmission lines aggregating to around 650 ckt kms in West Bengal and Bihar. The project was awarded through a competitive bidding process on a build, own, operate, maintain basis. Element 1 of the project consisting of the transmission line from Alipurduar to Siliguri was commissioned on January 20, 2020, and Element 2 of the project consisting of the transmission line from Kishanganj to Darbhanga was commissioned on March 6, 2019.

In June, ATL had revealed that the coronavirus-induced lockdown had delayed the execution of its under-construction projects due to the non-availability of workforce and delay in getting multiple regulatory approvals  had led to cost escalations.

“Delay in getting multiple regulatory approvals, i.e. ROW (right of way), forest approvals, wildlife, defense, civil aviation and power and transmission line crossing will delay the SCOD (scheduled commercial operation date), leading to cost escalation,” it had said.

It had also added that its cash flow was adversely impacted during pandemic times due to nonpayment by Discoms for transmission assets and by billed consumers for the retail distribution business.