Green Energy Projects Get Deadline Extension Amid GIB Habitat Delays

ENERGY

Overview

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy granted deadline extensions for renewable projects facing delays due to Supreme Court rulings on Great Indian Bustard habitats. Developers unable to secure approvals for overhead transmission lines owing to the GIB issue will receive leniency. This move acknowledges force majeure circumstances impacting project commissioning.

Deadline Extension Granted

The government has granted a crucial extension for renewable energy projects to commission their operations. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced on Monday that projects facing delays due to pending Supreme Court judgments concerning Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitats will receive leniency.

Supreme Court's GIB Ruling Impact

These delays stemmed from difficulties in obtaining approvals for overhead power transmission lines. The Supreme Court had initiated proceedings in April 2021, forming an expert panel to assess transmission line requests within GIB areas. This issue was revisited in March 2024, leading to the dissolution of the initial panel and the establishment of a larger committee. While the new committee submitted its views and a final order was passed in December, the statutory approvals under Section 68 of the Electricity Act, 2003, remained pending.

Force Majeure Acknowledged

The ministry acknowledged that such delays were beyond the reasonable control of renewable power developers. It categorized these circumstances as "akin to force majeure," providing a basis for extending project commissioning timelines and offering relief to the affected companies.

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