Big Names Make Beeline For 500 MW Tunisia Tender

• Tunisia has shortlisted 9 consortiums and 7 individual companies for the 500 MW solar power tender it launched in May 2018
• Big and established names from China, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain and other locations vying for the project capacity
• Some of the contenders shortlisted in the pre-qualifying round for solar have also made the cut for the country's 500 MW wind power tender

The Tunisian Ministry of Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises has released the list of pre-qualifiers for the 500 MW solar PV tender it launched in May 2018, along with 500 MW of wind power capacity (see 500 MW Tunisia PV Tender).

Among pre-qualifiers for the PV tender, 7 companies are bidding alone, but there are 9 consortiums as well. Companies bidding on their own are Italy's Enel Green Power Spa, Spain's Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, France's GreenYellow, Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, China's Power Construction Corporation of China, Norway's Scatec Solar, and China's SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Co, Ltd.

The complete list of pre-qualifiers is available on the website of the ministry.

In contrast to PV, the 500 MW wind power tender has 7 pre-qualified consortiums and 5 individual companies. Some of the names in the list of PV pre-qualifiers, appear in the wind power segment as well. Shortlisted companies for the wind power tender are also listed on the ministry's website.

The ministry hasn't shared any more details except for the list of the shortlisted companies.

The 500 MW solar power capacity will be constructed as 2 projects of 50 MW each in Tozeur and Sidi Bouzid governorates, 2 projects of 100 MW each in Kairouan and Gafsa governorates and 200 MW in Tataouine governorate. Winners will sign a power purchase agreement with the state utility STEG to sell power for a period of 20 years.