Coal crisis looms over multibillion tender row
evaluation criteria were subseIt is contended that the quently changed to accommoSCAPC changed its decision date Swiss Singapore. This based on a June 29-datelined was in contravention of the offiletter written by Swiss Singacial position held at two pre-bid pore seeking an adjustment in meetings where TEC members price evaluation criteria. “There clearly stated that all requireis documented, direct involvements specified in the bidding ment by this party,” said an audocument would remain unthoritative official source. “Nochanged. body can deny that.” Swiss Singapore’s interfer
The LCC bid document clearence in the process and the ly states that “no Bidder shall SCAPC’s response to it are now contact LCC or any other peran open secret. However, the son or organization involved on PAB has not even met to conany matter relating to its Bid, sider the four complaints before from the time of the opening of it. If the tender is not finalised Bids to the time the Contract is at least by August 1, there is a awarded.” It asserts that, “Any possibility that Lakvijaya will effort by a Bidder to influence not get its coal by mid-SeptemLCC in LCC’s Bidber.evaluation,Bid comparison or Contract Award To prevent a shutdown of the decision may result in rejection plant, the Ministry of Power of the Bid.” and Energy is in the process of
It is also alleged that the preparing a spot purchase ten- der. It will be floated by the LCC. While there may not be a price disadvantage in spot buying, it might be difficult to procure the coal on time.
“Coal is a commodity and transport takes ten days,” said an official source. “Loading and unloading takes five to six days, barging another few days. There is a lot of waiting and sailing time. These are issues that can crop up within a short period of time.”
LCC Chairman Maithri Gunaratne declined to comment. The coal tenders ran into trouble twice before, in 2014 and 2013. Both times, there was an outcry over the selection of Swiss Singapore as the successful bidder. At the last round in 2014, five out of six companies were dismissed, leaving just Swiss Singapore in the running.