Odisha’s Paradip Port Plans To Solarise Operations, Issues Tender

Odisha's Paradip Port Plans To Solarise Operations, Issues Tender

Paradip Port, one of India’s large ports, has now planned to decarbonise its operations. In order to reduce carbon emissions from the major port from Odisha, Paradip Port has decided to boost the growth of solar energy on its campus. To undertake the mission, the port, based in the Jagatsinghpur district of the state, has issued a tender.

The authority which comes under the aegis of Ministry of Shipping has planned to add 10 MW of grid-connected solar projects. The last date to submit the bids for the project is November 20, 2024. It has also mandated to ensure Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of these projects for the initial 10 years of the project.

“The bidder must have an average annual turnover of Rs.26.29 Crore (Rupees TwentySixCrore Twenty-nine Lakh) only or more during last 03 (Three) financial years ending on 31st March,2024.The supporting documents related to financial capabilities shall be certified by C.A / affidavit to be executed for the said supporting documents,” the tender said.

The port authority also said that it will also pre-visit to the site to understand the geography, feasibility of technology and others.

“All the prospective bidders are strongly advised to visit the site, assess the site conditions and submit a realistic offer. A pre-bid meeting shall be conducted at Paradip Port on the schedule date & time mentioned in TCN. The prospective bidders should visit the site prior to the pre-bid meeting and are strongly advised to participate in prebid meeting as per the schedule. During pre-bid meeting, clarification on technocommercial conditions shall be done and Paradip Port Authority may amend the technocommercial requirements so as to bring all the bidders on to a common platform,” the tender said.

It also added, “Any changes in technical criteria and term & conditions resulting out of pre-bid meeting shall be published in Port Website as Addendum / Corrigendum. No further deviation from the bidders shall be accepted thereafter. Accordingly, the bidders have to submit their bid.”

The Ministry of Shipping is now working towards boosting solar projects at major ports of India. These actions come under the Green Port Initiative of the ministry and other schemes. The ministry earlier had already proposed adding 20 MW of solar projects at Paradip port in their drive to boost solarisation of major ports in the country.