Oil India Limited, a government-owned enterprise engaged in the exploration of crude oil and natural gas in India, has floated an expression of interest (EoI) for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors to set up 100 MW of solar projects in the country.

The last date for submitting the bids is November 27, 2020. The company did not specify an earnest money deposit (EMD) for the tender. It said the project could be set up in any state in the country.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, inspection, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of the project with associated equipment and materials on a turnkey basis. Selected bidders must provide operations and maintenance services for the project for 25 years.

To be eligible to participate in the competitive bidding process, applicants must have experience undertaking projects with a similar scope of work for at least 50 MW of grid-connected solar projects. They are also expected to have successfully executed a similar project worth at least ₹1.5 billion (~$20.2 million) in the last seven years.

Prospective bidders must also have had an average annual turnover of at least ₹1.5 billion (~$20.2 million) in the last three financial years. They also must have had a positive net worth in the previous audited year.

According to the company, it has a renewable energy portfolio of 188.1 MW comprising 174.1 MW of wind projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, and two 14 MW solar projects in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.Earlier, Oil India invited prospective bidders to develop 100 MW (AC) of solar projects anywhere in India. The projects were tendered under the second phase of the central government’s CPSU program.

In December 2019, Oil India Limited issued a tender inviting bids for EPC contractors for a hybrid project consisting of 41 MW (±5%) wind energy project and 14 MW solar project in Gujarat. The project also entailed comprehensive operation and maintenance for 25 years.

Solar tenders issued by all government and private entities can be accessed by subscribing to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker.

Image credit: Photo by Antonio Garcia on Unsplash