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					</table>The <a href="https://mines.gov.in/webportal/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Mines</a> has unveiled the third tranche of e-auction for critical and strategic minerals. The auction will grant concessions for seven critical mineral blocks across five states.
Prospective bidders can purchase tender documents from the <a href="https://cms.mercomindia.com/daily-wrap-up-maharashtra-kusum-auction-results/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSTC</a> e-auction platform starting March 20, 2024.
The price of the tender document is ₹300,000 (~$3,619.9) plus applicable GST.
The deadline for purchasing the tender document is May 9, 2024, while the submission deadline for bids is May 14, 2024.
The auction marks a step in ensuring the availability of essential minerals vital for various industries across the country.
The Ministry has identified seven mineral blocks for composite licenses (CL) in the third tranche, comprising of minerals such as glauconite, graphite, nickel, platinum group elements (PGE), potash, lithium, and titanium.
These blocks are located in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-64424 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Picture1-3.png" alt="" width="680" height="352" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Picture1-3.png 680w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Picture1-3-300x155.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Picture1-3-650x336.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Picture1-3-624x323.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Picture1-3-600x311.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
The decision to include these blocks follows assessment, with these sites receiving fewer than three bids during the first tranche.
The initiative was guided by the Mineral (Auction) Rules 2015, specifically sub-rules 10 and 11(b) of rule 9.
The tender has been issued and published on the MSTC e-auction portal and the Ministry of Mines website, facilitating widespread participation in the bidding process.
The latest tranche builds upon the success of previous auctions. The central government has already conducted auctions for 38 critical and strategic minerals.
Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, Government of India, launched the first and second tranches, comprising 20 and 18 blocks, respectively, on November 29, 2023, and February 29, 2024.
These auctions have offered a diverse range of critical and strategic minerals crucial for various industrial sectors.
The MSTC auction platform provides comprehensive details about the mines, auction terms, timelines, and other relevant information.
The auction process will be conducted online through a transparent two-stage ascending forward auction mechanism.
The government said its commitment to enhancing the availability of critical minerals remains steadfast, and plans are underway to phase in the auction of more blocks.
This approach is expected to strengthen the nation&#8217;s mineral security and contribute to the growth and sustainability of various industries reliant on these essential resources.
Recently, the Ministry of Mines <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-launches-second-strategic-mineral-blocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> the second tranche of the auction to grant concessions for 18 critical and strategic mineral blocks across eight states, with 17 designated for the grant of composite license and one for the mining lease.
The first tranche was earlier <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ministry-of-mines-issues-critical-minerals-blocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> on November 29, 2023, which saw the auction of 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks, including minerals like glauconite, nickel, platinum group elements (PGE), potash, graphite, molybdenum, phosphorite, lithium, and rare earth elements (REE).

Ministry Launches Third Tranche of Auction for Seven Critical Mineral Blocks

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (<a href="https://www.seci.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SECI</a>) has invited expressions of interest (EoI) for the supply of 1,800 MW (DC) of solar modules (including cells manufactured in India) under the domestic content requirement (DCR) category.
SECI is in the process of executing projects with a capacity of 1,200 MW under the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) program II (Tranche III). The nodal agency plans to procure the modules for the projects directly from the manufacturers. SECI has invited EoI from solar cell and module manufacturers to supply modules to assess the availability and commercial parameters.
The last date to submit the bids is January 21, 2022.
The modules should be delivered in the financial year (FY) 2023-24.
In the event of delay in agreed contractual delivery as per the purchase order, a penalty of 0.5 % per week, subject to a maximum of 10% of the value of the undelivered quantity, will be applicable.
The EoI is for the supply of multicrystalline or monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) or thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar modules. The modules and cells should be manufactured in India.
SECI has stated that solar modules should be included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
The efficiency of the modules should be ≥ 19.5% for mono PERC, ≥ 17.4% for thin-film CdTe, and ≥ 17% for multicrystalline.
For crystalline silicon modules, the glass panel should have a transmittance of above 90%, and the minimum thickness of the glass should be 3.2 mm.
The glass should have a minimum thickness of 2mm on each side for thin-film modules.
The backsheet should have a three-layered structure durable for hot and humid conditions with moisture barrier, elongation retention, and UV resistance for crystalline silicon glass or polymer modules.
The module frame should be made of anodized aluminum. It must have provision for earthing to connect it to the earthing grid. The anodization thickness should not be less than 15 microns.
SECI has stated that the solar modules must be warranted with a linear degradation rate of power output except for the first year (maximum 3%) and should guarantee 80% of the initial rated power output at the end of 25 years. The modules should have a warranty of 10 years against all material and manufacturing defects.
In June this year, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-increases-time-commissioning-cpsu-solar-30-months/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extended</a> the commissioning for solar projects under Tranche-III of the CPSU program Phase-II to 30 months from 24 months after the letter of award is issued.
Subscribe to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-tender-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Tender Tracker </a>to stay on top of tender activity in real-time.

SECI Invites EoI for Supply of 1,800 MW of Solar Modules Under DCR Category

<a href="http://www.nhpcindia.com/home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NHPC Limited</a> has floated an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) tender for grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) projects (up to 1 GW capacity).
The tender includes a transmission line to evacuate power to Inter-State Transmission system (ISTS) sub-station, under &#8216;Tranche-III of Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase-II,&#8217; and an operations and maintenance (O&amp;M) contract for ten years. The project must be completed within 15 months from the date of issue of notification of award.
The last date to submit bids is November 9, 2021. Bids will be opened on November 16, 2021. Bidders are expected to pay ₹40,000 (~$539) as bid document cost.
Bidder must either be a single entity or a joint venture or consortium formed to participate in this project&#8217;s tendering. A bidder is permitted to associate sub-contractor(s) components in which he does not have the requisite experience.
The minimum capacity a bidder can bid for is 100 MW in multiples of 25 MW capacity of the project at one location. The grid-connectivity with the ISTS substation should be 132 kV and above.
Solar PV cells and modules must be manufactured domestically as per specifications and testing requirements set by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for domestic content requirements (DCR).
The bidder must be a developer or designed, supplied, erected, or supervised erection and commissioned or supervised commissioning of solar PV-based grid-connected power projects with a cumulative installed capacity of 40 MW or higher. At least one of the projects must be 10 MW.
Bidders who have executed an industrial project either as a developer or as EPC contractor in power or steel, oil, and gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, coal mining, including coal handling plant, with a minimum ₹2 billion (~$26.93 million) value in a single project in the last ten years. The project should be in operation for at least one year before the last date of bid submission.
The bidder should have executed either as a developer or as an EPC contractor at least one electrical sub-station of 33 kV or above, consisting of equipment such as 33 kV or above circuit breakers and power transformer, and should be in operation for at least one year before the last date of bid submission.
The bidder must hold proof of landholding, either acquired or leasehold for setting up renewable energy projects, for at least 50% of the applied capacity (requirement will be computed @ 5 acres/MW).
The bidder must also be a manufacturer or have a tie-up to supply DCR solar modules with domestic cells and module manufacturers for the applied capacity.
The bidder must have successful experience in O&amp;M of a minimum of 10 MW solar power project for at least six months in the preceding five years, as on the last date of the month before the bid submission date.
The bidder&#8217;s net worth must be positive in three out of the last five years. In the previous three years, the average annual turnover should not be less than ₹1.27 billion (~$17.1 million) for 100 MW bid capacity.
If the bidder has quoted more than 100 MW capacity, the turnover will be calculated as follows &#8211; Turnover Criteria = N x ₹1.27 billion (~$17.1 million), rounded off to next higher whole number (N = bidder quoted bid capacity in MW divided by 100).
The working capital must be ₹700 million (~$9.4 million) for a 100 MW bid capacity. If the bidders have quoted capacity more than 100 MW, the working capital will be calculated as follows &#8211; Working Capital Criteria = N x ₹700 million (~$9.4 million), rounded off to next higher whole number (Where, N = bidder quoted bid capacity in MW divided by 100).
All JV partners must individually fulfill the net worth criteria specified under the financial criteria.
Last month, NHPC <a href="https://mercomindia.com/nhpc-epc-tender-45-mw-solar-project-uttar-pradesh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for the EPC of a 45 MW grid-connected solar power project along with an associated power evacuation system in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh. The successful bidder will also have to take care of maintenance activities of the project for five years.
Earlier, NHPC had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/nhpc-epc-tender-100-mw-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for EPC services for a 100 MW grid-connected solar project and associated power evacuation infrastructure in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh.

NHPC Issues EPC Tender for 1 GW of Grid-Connected Solar Projects

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					</table>Three companies won 1.2 GW of solar-wind hybrid projects quoting a tariff of ₹2.41 (~$0.0326)/kWh – the lowest-ever for solar-wind hybrid projects, according to Mercom’s sources.
The tariff was discovered in the Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (<a href="https://seci.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SECI</a>) auction for setting up 1.2 GW of interstate transmission-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects under Tranche III of the interstate transmission (ISTS) program.
ABC Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of Axis Energy, was awarded 380 MW of projects, Adani Renewable Energy Holding Eight Limited was awarded 600 MW, and AMP Energy was awarded 130 MW for ₹2.41 (0.0326)/kWh. ACME Solar quoted ₹2.42 (~$0.0327)/kWh for 300 MW of projects but was only awarded 90 MW under the bucket-filling method.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SECI_Auction-for-1.2-GW-of-ISTS-Connected-Wind-Solar-Hybrid-Power-Projects-Tranche-III.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23463" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SECI_Auction-for-1.2-GW-of-ISTS-Connected-Wind-Solar-Hybrid-Power-Projects-Tranche-III.png" alt="SECI_Auction for 1.2 GW of ISTS-Connected Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects (Tranche-III)" width="559" height="205" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SECI_Auction-for-1.2-GW-of-ISTS-Connected-Wind-Solar-Hybrid-Power-Projects-Tranche-III.png 559w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SECI_Auction-for-1.2-GW-of-ISTS-Connected-Wind-Solar-Hybrid-Power-Projects-Tranche-III-300x110.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px" /></a>
Background: 
In December, Mercom had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-tenders-solar-wind-solar-hybrid-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> on the announcement of tender for 1,200 MW of wind-solar hybrid projects issued under the Tranche III of the ISTS program.
The detailed hybrid tender documents were then <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-announces-rfs-wind-solar-hybrid-tender/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">floated</a> in January.
Selected bidders must set up the wind-solar hybrid power projects in India on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis and sell the hybrid power to SECI. The projects are required to be designed for the interconnection with the transmission network of the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) at a voltage level of 220 kV or above. The developer will bear the responsibility of getting the ISTS connectivity and long-term access.
SECI also said that the rated installed project capacity of one of the components of the hybrid project – either wind or solar – must be 25% of the capacity of the other. The tender also mandated a minimum capacity utilization factor of 30%.
The solar component of the project can be sub-divided into blocks set up at multiple locations. However, such projects have to be located within the same state, and the minimum voltage level for a single block should be 33 kV.
According to Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-project-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">India Solar Tender Tracker</a>, SECI has tendered a total of 4.9 GW of solar wind hybrid projects under the ISTS program (Tranche I to Tranche III) and auctioned 1.56 GW under Tranche I &amp; II.
In the country’s first-ever solar-wind hybrid auction in December 2018, SECI had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-solar-wind-hybrid-auction-results/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">discovered</a> the previous lowest-ever L1 tariff of ₹2.67 (~$0.0361)/kWh quoted by SB Energy to develop 450 MW of projects. AGEL quoted ₹2.69 (~$0.0364)/kWh to develop 390 MW of projects.
In 2019, Adani Green Energy <a href="https://mercomindia.com/adani-lowest-tariff-seci-hybrid-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">emerged</a> as the L1 bidder in the auction conducted by SECI for 1.2 GW of ISTS-connected solar-wind hybrid power projects under Tranche-II. Adani Green Energy Limited Energy quoted a tariff of ₹2.69 (~$0.0364)/kWh to set up 600 MW of solar-wind hybrid projects.

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