UP: Coal India floats 20-MW floating solar tender at Chilwa Taal amid CAG scrutiny

Coal India Limited (CIL) has recently issued a 20 MW (AC) floating solar tender for developing a plant in Chilwa Taal near the HURL Fertilizer Plant in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. It has sought bids for the project until January 14, 2026.

Within the scope of the Coal India tender, the total available water surface area at the proposed location is around 150 acres. The area provides a hindrance-free water body.  The tender document is issued to the design, supply, construction, commissioning, testing, operation, and maintenance (O&M) for five years. However, any damage or breakage due to natural calamities will not be within the scope of the bidder.

The scope of the proposal includes the design, engineering, supply, construction, storage at site, associated civil works, services, permits, licences, installation, insurance at all stages, erection, testing, and commissioning.

The tender includes five (5) years of operation and maintenance (O&M) from the date of Operational Acceptance of the Floating Solar PV Power Plant. This scope completely covers all activities and services with respect to all equipment and works specified and included under the specifications. The specification also covers requirements for a 33,000 V vacuum circuit breaker suitable for use in an outdoor switchyard with an indoor control panel.

Aligning with the CIL 3 GW Solar Project Target

This tender comes at a time when the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pulled up Coal India Limited (CIL) for delays in executing solar power projects. It also criticized CIL for not fast-tracking its target of 3 GW of solar power capacity. The CAG also highlighted CIL’s failure to initiate the necessary steps or make adequate progress towards achieving the target of 1,000 MW of solar capacity, which was to be achieved by 2019.

The latest tender also aligns with observations in the CAG report, which flagged the Ministry’s announcement in July 2023 regarding CIL’s plans to add 1,158 MW of solar capacity by 2025–26. The report also shed light on CIL’s earlier plans to explore floating solar projects at abandoned mines, as well as at stabilised overburden (OB) dumps across different subsidiaries of CIL. However, the Ministry remained silent on the progress of these works.

It further recommended expediting corrective actions to ensure compliance with parameters laid down under CIL guidelines for mitigating air pollution. It recommended fast-tracking the implementation of solar power projects so that the environmental benefits materialise as envisaged.