Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has extended the deadline for the accomplishment of the projects which were under execution as of March 25, to August 24, 2020.
A notice by the ministry said that this comprehensive leeway if appealed by the renewable energy developers, will be given without case to case inspection, and no documents or proof will be asked for such extension.
"All RE projects under implementation as on the date of lockdown, i.e. 25th March 2020, through RE Implementing Agencies designated by the MNRE or under various schemes of the MNRE, shall be given a time extension of 5 (five) months from 25th March 2020 to 24th August 2020," it believed.
Previously in the month of July, an official announcement had set March 25 to May 31 as the official dates for the lockdown. It said it would grant project deadline leeway to cover the complete period, along with an additional 30 days in a bid to aid renewable energy developers overcome any snags in restarting their operations.
The notice further said that all renewable energy implementing agencies of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) will treat lockdown due to COVID-19 like force majeure.
The timelines for intermediate milestones of a project may also be extended within the extended time provided for commissioning, the ministry's notice dated August 13.
"The developers, of the projects covered under para 3(b) above, may also pass on the benefit of such time-extension, by way of permitting similar time-extensions, to other stakeholders down the value chainlike Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contractors, material, equipment suppliers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), etc."
The state renewable energy departments, comprising agencies under Power and Energy Departments of States, but dealing in renewable energy may also treat lockdown due to COVID-19, like force majeure, and may deliberate allowing appropriate time extension on account of such lockdown.
