Surat – The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) has made a significant representation to the Government of Gujarat, requesting an extension in the commissioning period for renewable energy projects. A delegation from SGCCI met with Gujarat's Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi and Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy and Petrochemicals Department S.J. Haider in Gandhinagar on June 17, 2025, to discuss key challenges facing the renewable energy sector.
The delegation included SGCCI Vice President Ashok Jirawala, Honorary Treasurer CA Mitish Modi, former President B.S. Agrawal, and Deputy Secretary Polick Desai, among others. They highlighted issues arising from Clause 17.4 of the Gujarat Renewable Energy Policy announced in 2023, which mandates that projects ranging from 1 to 100 megawatts must be commissioned within 12 months of receiving connectivity approval. However, the policy does not specify clear provisions in case of delays.
As per agency report, the delegation pointed out that although the Green Energy Open Access Regulations – 2024 issued by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) allow petition filing for delays in project execution, the approval process from GERC is time-consuming. Additionally, administrative hurdles such as delays in non-agricultural land conversion (NA) and other bureaucratic processes prevent most projects from achieving even 10 percent chargeability within a year.
In light of these issues, the Chamber recommended extending the commissioning deadline to a more practical timeline and introducing clearer provisions regarding penalties for delays. They also suggested that the authority for such decisions be transferred from GERC to the respective power distribution companies (DISCOMs) to expedite approvals.
Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi assured the Chamber that the matter would be reviewed seriously. Additional Chief Secretary S.J. Haider also responded positively to the suggestions. This initiative by SGCCI could play a key role in accelerating the development of the renewable energy sector in the state and provide much-needed relief to investors and entrepreneurs.
