Indian Oil considers cancelling maiden green hydrogen tender again

State-run oil refining and marketing major Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) is believed to be considering cancelling the tender for its maiden green hydrogen plant to revise norms to attract more bidders, according to some reports.

The bids for the tender closed on July 9 with two entities in the race—GH4India, a consortium that includes IOC and has ReNew and Larsen & Toubro as partners, and Noida based-Neometrix Engineering. The first bidder is at the centre of the matter as the initial tender had to be cancelled in February after potential bidders alleged preferential treatment toward the IOCL joint venture by virtue of a ‘right of first refusal’ clause that was given to it. The revised tender has since removed this clause to address these concerns.

This is the second time IOCL has floated the tender for the project to come up at Panipat in Haryana. On February 21, 2024, IOCL cancelled the first tenders following the outcry against favouring the IOCL consortium.

Two of the sources said that some renewable energy companies are believed to be lobbying for technical specifications to be diluted so that they can participate too.

India is pushing companies to set up green hydrogen generation capacity as it offers a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels since it is generated from renewable sources like wind and solar energy. Its production hinges on two critical components: cutting-edge hydrogen technology and strong renewable energy generation capabilities.

On February 21, IOCL cancelled tenders for its inaugural green hydrogen plant to be set up in Panipat, Haryana, amid allegations that the nation’s largest fuel retailer made “tailored” tender norms favouring a joint venture that included the state-run oil marketing company. The Independent Green Hydrogen Producers Association, comprising six renewable energy firms at the time, filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, alleging that IOCL’s tender favoured its joint venture company.

Subsequently, IOCL reissued the tender in March, removing the controversial ROFR (right of first refusal) clause. But potential bidders flagged that IOCL also introduced changes to the eligibility criteria, making it difficult for them to participate in the bids.

While the second tender revised norms to address the issue of preferential treatment to the IOCL joint venture, it also laid out stricter eligibility criteria that is the bone of contention for some industry players, sources said.

The revised tender restricts participating as sole bidders to Indian entities. The revised tender also outlines the mandatory stakes that joint venture partners or members of a consortium need to hold. The initial tender did not specify any such condition.

The bid documents fro hydrogen-handling facilities say companies should have handled such facilities of a refinery unit or petrochemical unit or fertiliser unit with a minimum capacity of 500 kilotonnes per annum (KTPA).

It also tweaked norms relating to purchase of renewable power, annual turnover and net worth.

The green hydrogen generation plant in Panipat, with a capacity of 10,000 KTA, is slated to be the largest green hydrogen plant in the country.