Tunisia launched the 4th round of 70 MW solar IPP tender

Today, the 23rd of September 2020, Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines (the “Ministry”) tendered the development and construction of a fourth round of several solar PV projects with a total installed power capacity of: 

-       60 MW with each project not exceeding a size of 10 MW; and 

-       10 MW with each project not exceeding a size of 1 MW. 

Successful bidders for these Independent Power Projects (IPPs) shall sell the entire Solar PV plant’s output to Société Tunisienne de l’Electricité et du Gaz (STEG) under a long-term "take-or-pay" PPA structure.

Each project under the above-mentioned scheme shall be implemented on the basis of a Build Own Operate (BOO) structure.

Bidders shall submit their bids by 09 February 2021.

The form of PPA tendered by the Ministry for the purpose of this scheme presents features of bankability. The PPA shall benefit from an in-depth analysis from a risk-sharing perspective that could provide more comforts to project lenders and developers.

The projects developed under this tender will help Tunisia achieving its plan for a renewable energy installed capacity amounting to 30% of the total installed capacity by 2030. 

Under the law n° 2015-12 dated 11 May 2015 relating to the production of electricity from renewable resources (loi relative à la production d’électricité à partir des énergies renouvelables) (the “RE Law”), solar PV IPPs are awarded by way of competitive bidding. Each successful bidder shall build, own and operate the solar PV plant on the basis of an authorization granted by the Ministry for projects with an installed capacity not exceeding 10 MW. The constructed plants shall be connected to the national grid to transport the electricity output. 

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