Egyptian Photovoltaic Solar Project Attracts 23 Local and Foreign Bidders

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Egypt's Ministry of Electricity plans to increase power generation by 3,500 megawatts (MW) with the launch of a project as part of its five-year (2012-17) energy plan. Concentrating solar power (CSP) technology will make up 2,800 MW, and photovoltaic (PV) cells will make up 700 MW. The project will be 67% funded by the private sector.

To initiate the overall plan, the ministry will open offers on October 20 for a tender by the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) to construct Egypt's first solar-operated power plant. The original date for the bidding process was July 25, but this has been pushed back twice at the request of private companies, in order to better prepare their presentations. Project bidding will be open to foreign and local investors in the private sector. It was reported that 23 Egyptian and international companies purchased particulars of sale to take part in the tender.

Companies with previous experience in the solar energy sector will be given preference in the tender. Land for the project will be operated under a usufruct scheme, with the Egyptian electricity transmission company tasked with purchasing and transmitting the power from the plants to loading centers for up to 20 years.

The site for the project is Kom Ombo, in the southern Egyptian province of Aswan. The 200-MW plant will operate under a build, own, operate (BOO) plan. The power plant will use PV technology and include 10 units, each producing 20 MW.

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