KIOCL Limited has invited bids for the development of a floating solar power project with a minimum capacity of 2.7 MWp on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis at its Blast Furnace Unit in Panambur, Mangaluru, following the issuance of a tender on May 22, 2026, with a submission deadline of June 22, 2026.
Project Specifications and Scope
The project entails the installation of a floating solar photovoltaic (PV) plant on the water reservoir of the Blast Furnace Unit (BFU) facility. While the minimum capacity is set at 2.7 MWp (DC), the exact plant capacity will be assessed during detailed engineering and further discussions with the KIOCL team.
The scope of work and technical requirements include:
- Business Model: Build-Own-Operate (BOO).
- Operation & Maintenance (O&M): The successful bidder will be responsible for the plant for a duration of 25 years.
- Work Completion Period: Five months from the date of drawing approval, excluding the monsoon season (June to September).
- Technical Scope: Preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR), design, engineering, manufacturing/procurement, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning.
- Key Components: Installation of float platforms along with anchoring and mooring systems, and Power Conditioning Units (PCU) with SCADA compatibility.
- Power Evacuation: Complete evacuation to the 6.6 kV feeder of the Pellet Plant’s Captive Power Plant (CPP) HT panel. This includes responsibility for route surveys, right of way, permissions, and crossings.
Tender Deadlines and Process
The procurement follows a two-part bidding system, consisting of a Techno-Commercial Bid and a Price Bid, followed by an e-reverse auction for technically qualified bidders.
TENDER PORTAL: https://www.kioclltd.in
Tender ID: 2026_KIOCL_839111_1
Tender Reference Number: RFX NO. 1100000315 dtd 22.05.2026
Critical Tender Schedule
| Event | Date and Time |
| NIT Publication Date | May 22, 2026 |
| Pre-bid Query Deadline | June 3, 2026, by 5:00 PM |
| Pre-bid Meeting (Video Conference) | June 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM |
| Online Bid Submission Deadline | June 22, 2026, by 5:00 PM |
| Bid Opening Date | June 22, 2026, at 5:30 PM* |
*Note: While the NIT specifies a 5:30 PM opening, TenderShark data indicates a 12:00 PM opening time.
Financial and Eligibility Criteria
Bidders must fulfill the following financial and technical qualifications:
Financial Requirements
- Earnest Money Deposit (EMD): ₹70.62 Lakhs (Note: TenderShark records this as ₹72.60 Lakhs). Exemptions apply for eligible MSEs and startups.
- Average Annual Turnover: Minimum of ₹11 crore over the last three financial years ending March 31, 2025, supported by an audited balance sheet or CA certificate.
- Security Deposit: 5% of the total contract value, excluding GST.
Technical Experience
- General Experience: A minimum of seven years of experience in providing similar services as of the month preceding the NIT publication.
- Similar Work Definition: Bidders must have successfully completed the “Design, Engineering, Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Floating Solar PV System of minimum capacity of 1 MW on Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis/turnkey basis in Central/State Government/PSUs/Private Organizations.”
Organizational Context and Site Background
KIOCL Limited, formerly Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited, is a Government of India Enterprise and a Mini Ratna Category I PSU under the Ministry of Steel. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the company has operated in iron ore mining, beneficiation, and pelletization for over four decades.
The project site is located at the Blast Furnace Unit (BFU) in Mangaluru. The BFU facility has the capacity to manufacture 2.16 lakh tonnes per annum of pig iron and is integrated with a 3.5 MTPA iron-oxide pellet plant. The primary objective of this project is to utilize industrial water resources for clean energy adoption to support the facility’s power requirements via its Captive Power Plant (CPP).
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