Expiry of safeguard duty: Boon for solar developers, bane for manufacturers

Indian solar cell and module makers may see difficult times ahead with no protection from imports till April next year.

Safeguard Duty (SGD), which was imposed on solar cells and module imports for the past two years, expired last month and the Basic Customs Duty (BCD), announced by the Centre, will kick in only after 9 months.

Sector executives feel this would exacerbate the problems of domestic manufacturers of solar cells and modules. But for solar project developers, it’s a boon as they would be able to import before the BCD is enforced.

“The 9-month duty-free period, with a ‘free