Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), a subsidiary of Coal India, has awarded KPI Green Energy a contract worth Rs. 1.3 bn to develop a 25 MW AC/35 MWp DC grid-connected, ground-mounted solar project in Jharkhand. The facility will be developed at the Dugdha II site in Dugdha Washery, operated by Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL). KPI Green Energy emerged as the winning bidder among 15 companies that participated in the tender.

The tender was issued in March 2026, and the contract was awarded seven months later. Other participating companies included Oriana Power, Waaree Renewable Technologies, Lumino Industries, Fujiyama Mecpower JV, BVG India, LNB Renewable Suncity JV and Suryam Ecoplanet JV, among others.

Under the contract, KPI Green Energy will undertake the design, engineering, procurement, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the solar power plant. The scope also covers comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) of the facility for 10 years. Work must begin within 30 days of the Letter of Acceptance and submission of performance security, or within seven days of site handover for the first activity listed in the PERT network, whichever is later.

The total contract period is 4,017 days. This includes 365 days for construction, commissioning and performance guarantee testing, followed by 3,652 days of O&M. The developer will therefore have one year to complete the plant before beginning the 10-year maintenance commitment.

CMPDI has awarded other solar contracts in recent years. Last year, Alpex Solar secured a consortium order worth Rs. 3.5 bn for a ground-mounted plant at Nandan Washery in the Kanhan Area under Western Coalfields. Alpex Solar holds a 70 per cent share of that order. In 2023, Oriana Power received a BCCL contract for a 20 MW AC solar plant at Dugdha Washery, with an EPC value of Rs. 1.38 bn, a 12-month completion schedule and five years of O&M services.