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Algeria set to tender contracts to build 4GW of solar farms

Algeria’s Ministry of Energy has announced the imminent launch of a tender for the installation of more than 4GW of solar farms in the next two weeks, according to a notice in government-owned website.

The website said the tender would be issued in three 1,350 MW phases as part of the country’s renewable energy policy, which aims to meet 27% of the country’s electricity demands from renewable sources by 2030. To this end, Algeria is looking to install 13.5GW of photovoltaics and 8.5GW of wind power in the next 13 years.

The upcoming round of tenders will enable the construction of several large-scale PV plants in the region of Hautes Plaines in the north of the country.

Among the foreign companies reported to be in the running for Algeria’s solar contracts are Carlo Gavazzi of Italy, Belectric of Germany, Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios of Spain, Engie Fabricom of Belgium, and JGC Corporation of Japan.

There are also joint bids by Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company with KPV Solar of Germany, and from Yingli Energy with China National Technical Import and Export Corporation.

The projects will be owned, developed and operated by special purpose companies that will be 49% owned by an international partner. Another 40% will be owned by Sonatrach, Algeria’s state-owned oil company, and 11% by other public or private Algerian concerns, including state gas utility Sonelgaz and electronic components producer Entreprise Nationale des Industries Electroniques.

Algeria is planning to build several manufacturing plants to produce components for the farms.

The aim of the solar farms is to divert Algeria’s gas resources away from domestic power production towards export.

Image: Algeria is planning to build 13GW of solar over the next 13 years (Clyde & Co)

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