The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), a subsidiary of Coal India, has awarded KPI Green Energy a contract to develop a 25 MW AC and 35 MWp DC grid-connected, ground-mounted solar power project in Jharkhand. The project will be developed at the Dugdha II site of the Dugdha Washery, operated by Bharat Coking Coal.

KPI Green Energy emerged as the winning bidder from a field of 15 companies. The tender was issued in March 2026, and the contract was awarded seven months later. Other participants included Oriana Power, Waaree Renewable Technologies, Lumino Industries, Fujiyama Mecpower JV, BVG India, LNB Renewable Suncity JV and Suryam Ecoplanet JV.

The scope covers the design, engineering, procurement, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the solar plant. It also includes comprehensive operation and maintenance of the facility for 10 years at the Dugdha II site.

The successful bidder must begin work within 30 days of receiving the Letter of Acceptance and submitting performance security, or within seven days of the site being handed over for the first activity identified in the PERT network chart, whichever is later. The total contract period is 4,017 days, comprising 365 days for construction, commissioning and performance guarantee testing, followed by 3,652 days of operation and maintenance.

CMPDI has awarded other solar contracts in recent years. Alpex Solar previously secured a consortium order worth Rs. 3.5 bn for a ground-mounted plant at Nandan Washery in the Kanhan Area under Western Coalfields, with a 70 per cent share of the contract value. In 2023, Oriana Power received a contract from Bharat Coking Coal to develop a 20 MW AC ground-mounted photovoltaic plant at Dugdha Washery. Its engineering, procurement and construction component was valued at Rs. 1.38 bn, including five years of operation and maintenance and applicable GST.