Under its National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued draft offshore wind energy lease rules for the development of offshore wind energy projects for production of electrical power within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country. The Ministry seeks stakeholders comments by 25 February 2019.
The Policy provides only a basic framework for development of offshore wind energy in the country. As per the policy, the offshore wind energy blocks are to be allocated to successful bidders through international competing bidding only and the lease fees are to be collected by the designated nodal agency i.e. National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai.
In order to regulate the leasing mechanism of offshore wind energy blocks, Lease Rules are required to be framed under the ‘Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zones and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976’.
A lease in respect of any offshore area/zone within the territorial waters or continental shelf within EEZ of India vested in the Union shall be granted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Government of India).
Every lease shall contain such of the terms covenants and conditions prescribed as in this rules and additional terms, covenants and conditions that may be stipulated in the agreement between the Central Government and the lessee, are applicable.
Provided that where the lease has been or is to be granted by the State Government, the Central government may consult the State Government before agreeing to such additional terms, covenants and conditions.
