Tunisia has released a list consisting of 16 bidders in total for the development of 500 MW of solar projects across the country.

The following companies have been pre-qualified by the Ministry of Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises for the tender: Masdar, EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), Acciona Energia, Canadian Solar, Enel Green Power, Engie, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, ACWA Power, Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd, Total Eren SA, and Scatec Solar etc.

In May 2018, Mercom had reported that the 500 MW of solar projects will be developed on a build, own, operate model in five locations across Tunisia. These include the development of 50 MW of solar PV projects in the governorate (province) of Tozeur and the governorate of Sidi Bouzid, 100 MW of solar PV projects in the governorate of Kairouan and the governorate of Gafsa, and another 200 MW solar PV project in the Tataouine governorate (in Borj Bourguiba, Sahara Project).

This north African country has witnessed a spur of activity in the renewable energy sector in the recent times.

Last month, Mercom reported that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, said that it would provide a €40 million (~$46.2 million) subordinated loan to Attijari bank Tunisia, which is a private bank and part of the Attijariwafa Bank Group. This loan would help strengthen its capital base and grow its lending operations and increase its volume of long-term financing for climate-related projects and smaller businesses.

Earlier, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies of the Republic of Tunisia tendered 70 MW of solar projects to be developed across the country. The capacity tendered was divided into two batches. One batch consisted of six 10 MW solar PV projects and the other comprises ten 1 MW solar PV projects. The power generated from these projects will be sold to the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas.

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer