The African nation of Côte d’Ivoire has launched a 60 MW solar power tender under its arrangement with the World Bank backed Scaling Solar Program which it joined in November 2019 (see Côte d’Ivoire Joins World Bank’s Scaling Solar Program).
It is a request for a pre-qualification round (RFQ) for interested companies for the installation of at least 60 MW grid connected capacity to be set up in Laboa and Touba cities in Bafing region. This capacity needs to be set up in the form of 2 projects on independent power producer (IPP) basis.
Launched through the country’s Ministry of Mines, Oil and Energy and state-owned electricity company Côte d’Ivoire Energies (CI-Energies) with help of the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) as lead transaction advisor, the tender makes it mandatory for all interested applicants to register with CI-Energies.
Interested applicants can compete for 1 or both the projects, and depending on the competitive prices offered, a single company can win both the lots and enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 25 years.
Last date to submit RFQ applications is September 6, 2021. Those selected in this round will move to request for proposals (RFP) round, according to tender call in French language.
According to the World Bank, Côte d’Ivoire aims to have 42% of its energy coming from renewable energy sources by 2030. It needs to expand its power generation capacity to be able to meet domestic demand of electricity that’s expected to grow at 8% annually, as well as to export the same to its neighboring countries.
Recently, the Scaling Solar Program expanded the number of its member nations with the addition of Niger for 50 MW PV capacity (see Niger Enters World Bank’s Scaling Solar Club).
