The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

When there is just a lone player on the field without any competitor, it gives the loner the right to dodge the game its own way. And that is probably happening with the implementation of the 450 Megawatt Bibiyana power plant project.

Industry analysts see the entire process of tendering for this major power plant project as being utterly flawed which eventually allowed only one competitor, Viz. the Powertek Consortium, to remain in the field. And the result is that this single bidder is now taking the deal it own way.

The flawed tendering process, as analysts pointed out, made Powertek Consortium the sole competitor in the field from where others bidders were virtually elbowed out.

Now being the sole bidder without having any competitors, Powertek is reportedly calling the shots by imposing its own convenient terms and conditions on the Power Cell of the Ministry of Power.

Of late, Powertek has imposed a condition that the government will have to pay up to US$ 15 million for canceling the project before its financial closure.

Industry sources said this is an exceptional condition ever demanded by any bidding company. Bewildered, the Proposal Evaluation Committee (PEC) of the Power Cell has forwarded this exceptional proposal to the Law Ministry for its opinion, it was learnt.

Insiders in the bidding process observed that although Powertek has asked the government to assume responsibility of US$ 15 million.