IOCL green H2 tender in legal mess, gets one bid

IGHPA has moved the Delhi HC against the tender, particularly aggrieved by the right of first refusal clause

- Rituraj Baruah

The tender to set up the first green hydrogen plant of state-run oil refiner and marketer Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOCL) received one bid till the 29 November deadline, people aware of the development said.

The bid came from GH4India Pvt. Ltd, which is IOCL’s own joint venture (JV) with infrastructure and engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and renewable energy company ReNew, the people said on the condition of anonymity. The JV, in which all three companies have equal stakes, was formed this year in August.

Meanwhile, an industry body of green hydrogen firms has approached the Delhi high court, alleging bias towards IOCL’s JV in the tender clauses.

"Around 50 players had participated in the pre-bid consultation. However, only one player submitted the bid due to the right of first refusal clause," said another person aware of the development.