Another day Another Extension, SECI Extends 50 MW Solar Tender in Tamil Nadu

SECI has extended the bid submission deadline for its tender for commissioning of 50 MW solar PV project with land and O&M in Tamil Nadu

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has extended the bid submission deadline for its tender for the design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of 50 MW (AC) solar PV project with land having 10 years plant O&M at Tamil Nadu.

The last date for bid submission has been extended from March 1, 2021, to March 15, 2021, and the technical bids will be opened on the new bid closing date. The date and time of opening of the price bids will be intimated to the shortlisted bidders from the technical round.

The tender was issued in the first week of January, with SECI seeking developers for the execution of green energy technologies by way of implementing a ground-based solar plant of 40 MW capacity with a 10 MW Agro PV system in the southern state.

The scope of work for the selected bidders will include the design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the full 50 MW (AC) solar project with the land.

The developers will also be required to provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for the projects for a period of 10 years from the date of successful commissioning.

As per the tender, the first contract under the scope is for providing all the design, engineering, commissioning, etc. services for the plant. The second contract is for the developer to provide comprehensive operation & maintenance of the solar PV plant for 10 years from the date of operational acceptance. The third contract is for the acquisition and transfer of land including developed infrastructure (if any).

The pre-bid meeting for the tender was conducted virtually on February 1, 2021. Prior to that, the agency had conducted a Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on January 22, 2021, on the tender. The reason for the discussion was to brief the various stakeholders about the Agro PV aspect of the project along with the widespread outreach of the project.

Since the turn of the year, this is the ninth extension that SECI has issued for one of its tenders. While it is believed that COVID implications and policy uncertainties are the key reasons for the regular extensions as developers are unsure about project costs and subsequent implications.

Which was most recently witnessed in Gujarat, where GUVNL cancelled results of two previous solar auctions after its latest auction achieved the record Rs 1.99/kWh bids for solar power. Leaving successful bidders astray and circling regulation committees for answers.