SECI Debars Reliance Power and Reliance NU BESS from Tenders for Alleged Document Fraud

Reliance Power Ltd and its subsidiary, Reliance NU BESS Ltd, have been banned from participating in Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) tenders for three years. This decision follows allegations of submitting fraudulent documents, according to an official document.

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The issue arose from a project bid by Maharashtra Energy Generation, now known as Reliance NU BESS. SECI discovered that the Bank Guarantee against the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), issued by a foreign bank and submitted by the bidder, was fake. This was revealed during the examination of documents submitted for a project.

SECI Tender Details

The tender in question involved setting up 1000 MW/2000 MWh Standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. It was part of a tariff-based competitive bidding process under RfS No. SECI/C&P/IPP/15/0009/24-25, dated June 26, 2024. The tender included various amendments and clarifications.

Due to the discovery of this discrepancy after the e-Reverse Auction, SECI had no choice but to cancel the tendering process. The submission of fake documents violated tender conditions, making the bidder eligible for debarment from future SECI tenders.

Impact on Reliance Power

Reliance NU BESS, a subsidiary of Reliance Power Limited, met the Financial Qualification Requirements using its parent company's financial strength. Upon further investigation, it was concluded that all commercial and strategic decisions were primarily influenced by Reliance Power Limited.

This led SECI to debar not only Reliance NU BESS but also its parent company, Reliance Power Limited, from participating in future tenders. The decision underscores the importance of authenticity and compliance in tender submissions.

The ban highlights SECI's commitment to maintaining integrity in its tendering processes. Companies are expected to adhere strictly to all requirements and ensure the authenticity of their submissions to avoid similar consequences.