The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has granted a 30-day extension to VMS TMT Ltd for its 11.88 MW captive solar project, allowing the company to retain its grid connectivity despite rejecting its force majeure claim related to geopolitical disruptions and supply chain challenges. VMS TMT had approached the Commission seeking an extension for completing the evacuation infrastructure for its solar project, which is connected to GETCO’s 66 kV Kotda substation in Gujarat.
The company attributed delays in project execution to unforeseen international events, including disruptions caused by the ongoing geopolitical conflict in West Asia. According to VMS TMT, the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran disrupted global logistics, maritime shipping routes and air cargo operations, affecting the supply of critical equipment required for the project’s evacuation infrastructure.
VMS TMT told the Commission that delivery of key project components, including 33 kV and 66 kV power cables, galvanised structures and switchgear equipment, was delayed by up to 35 days.
The company also cited global shipping bottlenecks, port congestion and reduced air freight capacity, which it said affected the availability of essential materials such as steel, copper and oil-based products.
However, GERC rejected the force majeure claim, stating that VMS TMT had not established a sufficient direct causal connection between the geopolitical disruptions and its failure to meet the original project timeline.
The Commission observed that the company had not submitted adequate contemporaneous project schedules or other evidence to demonstrate that the project would have been completed within the stipulated timeline if the alleged disruptions had not occurred.
GERC also clarified that delays involving suppliers or subcontractors do not automatically qualify as force majeure events under the applicable transmission connectivity framework.
The Commission further noted that general media reports and the Ministry of Finance’s Office Memorandum concerning the West Asia conflict could not, by themselves, constitute grounds for extending contractual deadlines. It said renewable energy developers are expected to account for routine project contingencies and potential supply chain risks while planning project execution.
Despite rejecting VMS TMT’s force majeure plea, GERC considered developments that occurred while the petition was pending.
The Commission noted that the project’s evacuation infrastructure had subsequently been completed. It also recorded that the Availability Based Tariff (ABT) meter and Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) communication systems had been installed jointly by VMS TMT, GETCO and UGVCL by May 27, 2026.
GERC observed that denying relief at this stage could result in the cancellation of the project’s grid connectivity approval and potentially jeopardise a solar project that was otherwise ready for grid synchronisation.
Considering the specific circumstances of the case and its statutory responsibility under Section 86(1)(e) of the Electricity Act, 2003, to promote renewable energy development in Gujarat, the Commission decided to provide a 30-day extension to the project.
However, GERC explicitly stated that the relief was granted based on the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case and should not be treated as a precedent for similar cases in the future.
The Commission disposed of the petition and the accompanying interlocutory application on July 20, 2026.
The decision highlights the regulatory challenges faced by renewable energy developers in managing project timelines amid global supply chain disruptions, while also underscoring that developers must provide clear evidence linking such disruptions to project delays when seeking force majeure relief.
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