Post industry’s demand, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has granted an extension of renewable project completion time equivalent to the period of Covid-19 lockdown and additional 30 days for normalisation after the end of the lockdown.
This will be a blanket extension, meaning there will be no requirement of the case to case examination. There will be no need to ask for any evidence for an extension due to lockdown.
“Renewable Energy implementing agencies may grant an extension of time for RE projects, on account of lockdown due to Covid-19, equivalent to the period of lockdown and additional 30 days for normalisation after the end of such lockdown”—read the ministry notification.
The Ministry has also said that all renewable energy implementing agencies of the MNRE will treat lockdown due to Covid-19, as a Force Majeure.
The decision was taken after renewable energy developers represented to the Ministry asking for a general time extension on account of lockdown (due to Covid-19) and additional time required for normalization after such lockdown.
MNRE had, earlier on March 20, issued directions to Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), NTPC and renewable energy departments of States to treat delay on account of supply chain disruption due to the spread of coronavirus in China or any other country, as a Force Majeure. It said the agencies might grant a suitable time extension for projects based on evidence/documents produced by developers in support of their respective claims.
