The Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) has cancelled its tender to set up the first green hydrogen plant in the company's Panipat Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Haryana, amid a lacklustre response and allegations that the tender norms favoured a joint venture that included the state-run oil marketing company.

The Independent Green Hydrogen Producers Association, which represents private sector players from the industry, moved court against the tender.

Following this, last week, IOC issued a corrigendum stating that the tender for the green hydrogen project of capacity 10-kilo tonne per annum stands cancelled.

In December, IOCL received only one bid for the tender from GH4India Pvt Ltd, which is a joint venture the company has formed with infrastructure and engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and renewable energy company ReNew.

The conflict of interest in the bidding process led the prospective bidders to approach the court to challenge IOCL's bid process.