Govt Looking to Float 5 GW Manufacturing-Linked Solar Tender Again

Most of the large industry players stayed away from the tender. And now, the government plans to cancel the previous bids and start fresh bidding on the project.

The Government is planning to float the infamous 5 GW manufacturing-linked solar tender for a second time, after scrapping the results from the first issue.

Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) first large scale manufacturing-linked solar tender issued last year initially for 10 GW capacity, after six extensions and dropping the capacity to 5 GW attracted all but just one bid from Azure Power for 2 GW power capacity linked with 600 MW solar equipment manufacturing.

However, unlike Azure, most of the other large industry players stayed away from the tender. And now, the government plans to cancel the previous bids and start fresh bidding on the project.

Commenting on the reason for re-tendering, Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh told reporters, “We found that the rate which was initially quoted was unreasonable. We evaluated the bid when it was received as per the prevailing circumstances.”

With an aim to boost local manufacturing of solar equipment, the manufacturing-linked tender was first floated by SECI in May last year. However, due to low interest from the industry the bid submission was postponed six times.