- Uzbekistan has opened RFQ round for up to 300 MW AC Guzar Solar Project
- To be established with the ADB support, project location is disclosed as Guzar district in Kashkadarya region
- Winner will also lay a transmission line for the project to connect the facility to the nearby Guzar 220kV substation
The Ministry of Energy (MOE) in Uzbekistan has opened a tender for up to 300 MW AC Guzar Solar public private partnership (PPP) project, to be developed with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
For the project, the ministry has identified Guzar district of Kashkadarya region as the location where the selected company will be expected to also lay a transmission line connecting it to the nearby Guzar 220kV substation.
MOE is developing 1 GW solar capacity with the ADB support as it seeks to increase the country’s large scale renewable energy capacity to up to 8 GW by 2030. The bank is providing its transaction advisory services to help the country establish lowest cost of energy sources, and reduce its fossil fuel dependence.
While the ministry said companies won’t be forced to use local content in terms of electrical equipment and electrical cabling, there will a certain minimum local content requirement to incorporate Uzbek goods, materials and labor.
One of the conditions specified is for prequalified companies, including the winning bidder, to ensure none of the goods, works or services used for the project are related in any which way to forced labor and child labor, to the best of their knowledge.
Shortlisted companies post this round will be eligible to enter request for proposals (RFP) round.
Launched on December 30, 2021, the ministry will accept qualification applications till March 30, 2022, according to tender details on its website.
The Guzar Solar Project will be structured on the same lines as the 200 MW Sherabad Solar Project which was the 1st PV facility under the 1 GW Solar Program. It was won by Abu Dhabi’s Masdar in June 2021 (see Masdar Wins Uzbek’s Sherabad Solar Power Auction).
