Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL), a coal mining company owned by the Government of Telangana and the Government of India, has floated three tenders to develop 232 MW of solar projects at different sites in Telangana. Of this, a 17 MW project will be on a coal mine OB (overburden) dump site.

The last date for the submission of bids is September 29, 2023.

The scope of the work involves the design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning of solar power projects.

The selected developer must also oversee the operation and maintenance (O&M) of these projects for ten years.

The three separate tenders issued include a 67.5 MW capacity, 134.5 MW across four locations, and 30 MW capacity across three different sites.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹10 million (~$120,552).

Bidders must quote for the entire cumulative capacity of 67.5 MW, 30 MW, or 134.5 MW, and the total capacity will be awarded to a single successful bidder.

67.5 MW Solar Project

The project will be developed in the Mandamarri area with a 220 kV evacuation.

Only one successful bidder will be awarded two separate contracts for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and O&M.

Bidders must have, as an EPC or a developer, executed ground-mounted solar projects with a cumulative capacity of at least 34 MW in the last seven years, including one project of 16 MW or more, all operating satisfactorily for at least six months.

The bidder must have an annual turnover of at least ₹1.32 billion (~$15.9 million) in the last three financial years. They must also have a positive net worth in the most recent audited financial year.

The bidder’s working capital should be a minimum of ₹820 million (~$9.8 million).

134.5 MW Solar Project

The project, which will operate at 132 kV, will be spread across four sites of SCCL, Kothagudem area (32.5 MW), Sri Rampur area (27.5 MW), STPP area (37.5 MW), and Ramgundam-3 Area (37 MW, comprising 20 MW ground-based and 17 MW OB dump-based).

Separate contracts will be signed for different locations with the same winning bidder, and the electronic reverse auction will apply solely to the total cumulative capacity of 134.5 MW.

Bidders should have previously executed ground-mounted solar projects with a cumulative capacity of at least 67 MW as an EPC contractor or developer in the last seven years.

Additionally, they should have executed at least two grid-connected solar photovoltaic power projects, each with an individual capacity of 16 MW or more, all operating satisfactorily for at least six months.

Their average annual turnover must be at least ₹2.62 billion (~$31.5 million) in the last three financial years.

Additionally, they should maintain a minimum working capital of ₹1.63 billion (~$19.6 million), according to the last audited financial statement.

30 MW Solar Project

The project, evacuated at 33 kV, is distributed across three SCCL sites: Yellandu area (15 MW), Bhupalapalli area (10 MW), and Ramgundam-1 area (5 MW).

Bidders must have experience as an EPC contractor or developer in ground-mounted solar projects with a cumulative capacity of at least 22 MW in the last seven years.

Additionally, they should have executed at least two grid-connected solar photovoltaic power projects, each with an individual capacity of 5 MW or more, all operating satisfactorily for at least six months.

Bidders must have an average annual turnover of at least ₹580 million (~$6.9 million) in the last three financial years.

Their net worth for the most recent audited financial year should be positive. They must maintain a minimum working capital of ₹350 million (~$4.2 million).

If the bidder’s working capital is insufficient for any of the three tenders, it can secure a letter from an RBI-approved bank with a net worth of at least ₹5 billion ($60.2 million), confirming the availability of a line of credit equal to or exceeding the specific project’s working capital requirements.

Additionally, bidders must submit a list of projects commissioned at least six months before the bid submission, specifying whether they are grid-connected.

Solar cells and modules for the projects must be obtained exclusively from manufacturers listed in List-I (solar photovoltaic modules) of the most recent Approved List of Models and Modules order.

In March 2022, SCCL issued a tender to appoint a consultancy agency to prepare preliminary survey reports on policy and infrastructure for developing ground-mounted solar projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Karnataka.

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