Following a tender floated by Ethiopia, 5 international energy firms are bidding to construct 100 megawatt solar energy plant in Metehara City, Oromia State.

Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) in its aim to correspond to the government’s ambition to build a climate resilient green economy, has been working towards developing renewable energy resources including wind.

It was back in May 2016 that EEP invited energy firms to submit their proposal to construct a 100 megawatt solar power generation plant. The tender was closed 6 months ago upon which 5 global energy companies submitted their technical and financial proposals.

The companies are: Fotowatio Renewable Ventures B.V. (FRV), Meridiam-Solairedirect Consortium, Enel Green Power S.p.A., The Building Energy S.P.A. Consortium, and CCE Oasis Technology Corporation.

Commenting on the development Mekuria Lemma, Strategy and Investment Director with EEP, said the bidding committee has evaluated the technical and financial proposals. “The technical proposals have been approved. The financial proposals will be approved soon,” Mekuria noted. The winning company would be notified in a month time.

According to Mekuria the offers were encouraging EEP to buy more electric power from the private sector.

The arrangement is that the winning company will develop the power plant, generate and then sell the electric power to EEP. For this it will sign a a power purchasing agreement (PPA) with EEP.

By the end of the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) period, the government intends to generate 800 megawatts from 5 solar energy plant fields.

Source: The Reporter