Uzbekistan's national power utility Uzbekenergo has received submissions from 23 companies from across the world for its 100 MW solar power tender issued in February 2019. Back then the utility said more than 20 major energy companies and international financial organizations had shown interest in a November 2018 conference to develop public private partnership (PPP) projects (see Uzbek Utility Launches 100 MW Solar Tender).
The project was announced by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), transaction adviser for the project. It is assisting the Uzbek government for the creation of a public private partnership (PPP) for the 100 MW project (see IFC To Back 100 MW PV Plant In Uzbekistan).
While it did not share the names of the companies interested in the 100 MW project scheduled to come up in Navoi region, IFC said that global names from Europe, Asia and the Middle East are among the candidates.
Uzbekenergo will now evaluate the proposals and invite shortlisted companies to submit bids.
The 100 MW tender is the country's first competitively tendered solar power project being prepared by the IFC, Uzbekenergo and the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade Design. It constitutes a first phase of a larger government initiative to generate up to 1 GW of new solar energy.
"The number of companies interested in Uzbekistan's first competitively tendered solar project is a strong indication that the government's decision to develop this project in a competitive and transparent manner has been well received by investors," said Georgi Petrov, IFC PPP Regional Manager. "This project is helping lay the foundation for greater investor confidence and investment in the country."