By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA
THE Industrial Development Corporation Limited (IDC) has called for proposals for a combined 100 megawatts of solar photo-voltaics (PV) independent power projects.
This will be implemented through the Scaling Solar Zambia Programme and it will be the country’s first solar photo-voltaics to be located in the Lusaka–South Multi-Facility Zone.
Chief executive officer Andrew Chipwende said his institution had issued a request for proposals for a combined 100 megawatts of solar PV power under round one of the Scaling Solar Zambia Programme.
This relates to the competitive procurement of two grid-scale solar PV power plants of up to 50 megawatts each and both projects will be in the Lusaka-South Multi-Facility Economic Zone.
“The request for proposal has been issued to the 11 highly qualified and experienced bidders that successfully navigated an initial prequalification phase held in November 2015.
“The 11 prequalified bidders are EDF Energy Nouvelle, Scatec Solar, Access Eren Zambia, Mulilo Zambia PV1 Consortium, Enel Green Power, Globeleq, International Power SA with Engie, Neoen with First Solar, Shanghai Electric Power with Avic, Africa Infrastructure Fund2 with Old Mutual Life Insurance Company with Cobra and CDE and Grupo-T Solar,” Mr Chipwende said.
He said that the 11 prequalified bidders are required to submit their final proposal within eight weeks by closing date April 9, 2016.
This is contained in a statement issued in Lusaka by IDC and made available to Times yesterday.
“The bids will then be evaluated on the basis of their compliance with technical and commercial requirements as contained in the request for proposals,” he said.
Two winning bidders would then be selected, one for each project. The winning bidders would be selected on the basis of the lowest electricity price such as tariffs offered for each of the two projects.
Mr Chipwende said the winning bidders would be responsible for financing, construction, operation and maintenance of their respective plants under 25-year Power Purchase Agreement.
He said the plant construction was expected to commence in 2016, saying that the Government through IDC would retain a minority shareholding in each project for later offering to the Zambians.
Mr Chipwende said round two of the 200 mega watts of the Scaling Solar Zambia programme was expected to be launched soon.
Following the rapid success to date of Round 1 of the Scaling Solar Zambia program, IDC now expects to formally launch the commencement Round 2 of the programme.
This is expected to be made shortly after concluding administrative arrangements with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) a member of the World Bank, its transaction advisors.
“Round 2 will target a minimum of 200 MW of solar PV capacity, to be divided into four projects of 50 MW each. Round 2 would see IDC, working through ZESCO, identify four suitable locations across the
major electricity load centres in Zambia, to ensure the grid can safely absorb the additional capacity and to invest in strengthening the grid where necessary,” Mr Chipwende said.
In July 2015, President Edgar Lungu directed IDC to drive the urgent development and installation of at least 600 mega watts of solar power, in order to redress the current power deficit in Zambia and resultant national crisis.