NTPC Mining Limited (NML), the mining arm of NTPC, has invited an expression of interest for the selection of a Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) to develop a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic project of 50 megawatt peak (MWp) direct current and 40 megawatt (MW) alternating current and to undertake its operation and maintenance (O&M). The non-binding exercise seeks interested developers until 1 September 2026 for two captive projects at coal mining sites in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

The tender envisages two plants of 25 MWp DC and 20 MW AC capacity each, one at the Pakribarwadih Coal Mining Project in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand, and the other at the Talaipalli Coal Mining Project in Sundargarh district, Chhattisgarh. At Pakribarwadih the proposal tentatively earmarks about 80 acres of dump-top area for the installation, noting that the total top surface area of Dump-C at an elevation of approximately 90 m is about 150 hectares and remains under expansion.

The selected RESCO developer will be expected to finance, own, operate and maintain the plants for a 25-year period and to supply the entire output to NML under a long-term power purchase agreement secured through competitive bidding or reverse auction. The developer will undertake minor site levelling and preparation as part of the scope, and if additional land is required the developer must submit a proposed layout with justification for NML approval before any expansion.

The EOI aims to assess market interest, evaluate commercial viability, refine technical and commercial bid conditions and identify implementation challenges early while gauging the availability of competent developers. NML is seeking responses from Indian companies or firms either individually or as consortia of up to three entities, along with central public sector undertakings and state government entities. The authority will refine tender conditions based on industry feedback before issuing a binding procurement process.