Oman floated a tender to appoint technical consultants for the development of 4 GW solar projects.  Nama Power and Water Procurement Company, the single offtaker for all independent power projects, invited interested bidders to submit applications by August 26. The winners will provide technical consultancy for the development of the projects and advise on the competitive tendering process.

Kuwait-based renewable energy developer and platform, Alternative Energy Projects Company (AEP), announced plans to raise capital to expand its solar energy business across Kuwait and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. AEP appointed Kamco Invest, in collaboration with Burgan Bank, to lead the transaction. AEP finances, builds and operates solar energy projects under long-term contracts with government and corporate customers. The funding will be used to support the company’s pipeline of solar and hybrid off-grid projects in Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.

The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors approved financing of up to $66 million for the first phase of the 500 MW Dandara solar project in Qena Governorate, southern Egypt. The project will also include a 100 MWh battery energy storage system. The financing will support the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar project and its integrated battery storage facility. The financing comprises $46 million from the African Development Bank Group’s ordinary resources and $20 million in concessional funding from the Climate Investment Funds’ Clean Technology Fund, with additional debt to be mobilized from a consortium of development finance institutions. The total project cost is estimated at more than $290 million.

Egypt commissioned a 1,000 MW solar project integrated with a 600 MWh battery energy storage system in Benban, Aswan. The project is designed to improve grid reliability, enable greater renewable energy integration, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The energy storage system will store excess daytime solar generation and dispatch electricity during peak-demand periods or after sunset.