The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM) has invited interested Indian EPC companies to offer their candidature for a 100 MW solar power plant in Bangladesh that's to be built using an Indian government's line of credit (LOC) for its neighbor.
The bank is to conduct a prequalification exercise and provide a list of prequalified bidders to Bangladesh for the project that's to come up at Madarganj in Jamalpur district of Bangladesh (see Bangladesh Planning 100 MW Solar Power Plant In Jamalpur).
Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) is to build this project as part of its target to generate 2.73 GW of new power generation capacity by 2030, comprising 100 MW solar and 200 MW wind power plants. The proposed solar power plant will be located on some 325.6 acres of land which has been acquired.
Winners will need to complete all necessary jobs within 24 months. RPCL plans to select 2 separate EPC contractors. One of these will provide EPC services for the 100 MW solar plant and its facilities to be funded by India's LOC, and the other to provide EPC services for 132 kV double circuit transmission line of 50 km to the nearest substation in Ghatail. The latter will be funded by the Bangladesh government.
One of the conditions of the Indian government is for goods, works and services for minimum 65% value under the LOC must be sourced from India.
Interested companies have time till July 6, 2022 to submit their applications, according to the tender notice issued by EXIM.
India offers its LOCs through EXIM under the Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS). In 2021, EXIM extended a $40 million LOC to the Government of Togo to support solar electrification of 350 villages in the African nation (see India PV News Snippets: MNRE, Fortum, EXIM, Tata, Mercom).