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Kuwait selects bidders for pilot solar project

The project will enable Kuwait to assess the performance of different renewable technologies under its climatic conditions, conduct technical and economic feasibility studies, and determine any deficiencies. (Image source: Inhabitat/Flickr)

Kuwait has announced bidders for its pilot solar project Shagaya concentrated solar plant (CSP), expected to deliver up to 225,000 MWh to the grid every year

The project will comprise 70MW of concentrated solar thermal plant, photovoltaic and wind energy plants, according to the company.

Bidding for Phase 1 of Kuwait?s Shagaya multi-technology renewable energy (RE) park closed in November 2013, resulting in six shortlisted consortia for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the 50MW Shagaya CSP. Out of eight qualified CSP consortia, five are led by Spanish contractors.

In June 2013, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) launched the bidding process for the EPC of the 70MW Shagaya RE Park Phase 1, accepting proposals from pre-qualified groups. The project is expected to enable Kuwait to assess the performance of different renewable technologies under its climatic conditions, conduct technical and economic feasibility studies, and determine any deficiencies.

The lowest bid was submitted by Spain?s engineering firm TSK Electronica Y Electricidad SA and Kuwait?s Kharafi National.

The second bid was made by Abengoa?s subsidiaries Abener and Teyma, which is currently constructing the 280MW CSP Mojave Solar Project in South Africa and has partnered with Kuwait?s Bader Al-Mulla & Brothers Company.

Spanish contractor Elecnor SA is the third bidder, which would be teaming up with Kuwaiti company Al Ghanim International General Trading & Contracting Company.

Cobra Instalaciones Y Servicios, a Spanish EPC contractor, with a CSP portfolio totalling more than 500MW, submitted the fourth bid for Shagaya CSP plant.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited has made the fifth bid. In Kuwait, L&T would work with subsidiary L&T Kuwait Construction, a joint venture (JV) of L&T Limited of India and Bader Al Mulla & Brothers Company of Kuwait.

The final bid was made by Spain?s Abantia Instalaciones, credited for the 22.5MW Borges ? the world?s first biomass-hybridised solar thermal facility. It?s local partner would be Burhan International Construction Company, member of the Al-Wazan Trading in Kuwait.