KIOCL Limited, a Government of India enterprise headquartered in Bengaluru, has invited bids to develop a floating solar plant at its Blast Furnace Unit in Panambur, Mangaluru. The company has issued a notice inviting tender for the design, engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a minimum two point seven megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant. The project is planned on the water reservoir at the BFU facility and will be implemented on a build?own?operate basis.

The selected contractor will be responsible for preparing the detailed project report and completing final commissioning, including power evacuation to the six point six kV feeder of the Pellet Plant captive power plant high tension panel. The contract covers supply, installation and testing as well as operation and maintenance for 25 years. KIOCL has specified that installation must be completed within five months from the date of drawing approval, excluding the monsoon season.

The tender was published on 22 May 2026 and interested bidders may submit pre bid queries by three June 2026 by five PM, with a pre bid meeting scheduled by video conference on four June 2026 at 11 AM. The final date for online bid submission on the company e tendering portal is 22 June 2026 by five PM. The process will follow a two part system with a Techno Commercial bid and a Price bid and an e reverse auction among technically qualified bidders.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of Rs. seven point zero six two million (mn) through approved payment modes, with exemptions for eligible micro and small enterprises and startups on submission of supporting documents. Companies must have an average annual turnover of at least Rs. 110 million (mn) for three financial years ending 31 March 2025 and the selected bidder must furnish a performance bank guarantee or security deposit equal to five per cent of the total contract value excluding GST. The floating solar project is intended to support KIOCLs move towards clean energy adoption and better utilisation of industrial water resources for sustainable power generation.