Kuwait's latest tender invites bids on a new 0.5-GW Solar Project
Kuwait invited pre-qualified consortiums to submit bids for a new solar power project of 0.5 gigawatts, which aims to expand clean energy generation in the Gulf State.
Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects announced in its official gazette on Sunday that the second tender of the year will cover the Al Dibdibah Power & Al Shagaya Renewable Energy Phase III - a Zone 2 Solar Power PV Independent Power Project.
KAPP said that the company will provide power to the Ministry of Electricity through a 30-year agreement for purchase of electricity.
Kuwait is facing severe power shortages because of rapid population growth, urbanization, rising temperatures, and maintenance delays in some plants. The OPEC member has had to impose power cuts planned for some areas as early as last year.
Six consortiums have been invited by the government to submit bids. These include groups led Jinko Power and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar. They also include EDF Renewables SA (formerly ACWA Power), Swift Current Management Services, and Tianjin Zhonghuan New Energy Co.
Limak Yatirim Enerji TotalEnergies Renewables, and Kalyon Enerji are qualified contractors.
KAPP stated that the successful bidder would undertake the project within a contract framework, which includes development, financing and design of the plant, as well as construction, operation, and maintenance.
The project will be developed in Kuwait's PPP framework. A strategic partner holds between 26% and 44% of the company. 50% is given to Kuwaitis, while the remainder is held by the government.
Kuwait recently increased its energy project launch.
KAPP began accepting bids in September for the first phase, 1.8-GW Al Khairan project. In August, it signed contracts worth more than $3.27billion with ACWA Power and Gulf Investment to build phases 2 and 3 of Al-Zour North. (Reporting and editing by Alexander Smith; Ahmed Hagagy)
(source: Reuters)
