Suriname to pre-qualify contractors for three MW-sized PV projects

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The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has started the tender process for the construction of three solar plants or PV-hybrid power plants in Suriname.

The CDB said utility N.V. Energie Bedrijven Suriname (EBS)  – which is implementing the projects – will pre-qualify contractors, and invitations for bids will be issued next month. Pre-qualification submissions, the CDB said in its statement, will have to be sent by October 10.

Only developers with an average annual turnover of $6 million over the past three years, cashflow of $750,000 and at least five years' experience as an EPC contractor will be considered.

Two of the PV plants will in the Nickerie district, on the north-west coast, while another will be installed in Coronie, in the north of the northeastern South American nation.

Public funding of $33m

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The CDB last October announced a loan of $65 million to support the projects and a broader drive to improve EBS’ grid capabilities. The project’s total required investment is $98 million, with EBS and the government of Suriname providing an additional $33 million. The project will entail the upgrade of 36.6km of sub-transmission and distribution lines, the construction of five new substations and the expansion or upgrade of three substations as well as construction of the solar facilities themselves.

Some 100 MW of solar projects are under development in Suriname, with a facility planned by US company Solarreserve. It is unknown, however, if this project would rely on PV or CSP technology, with Solarreserve a specialist in the latter.

Suriname’s power system is largely based on hydropower and fossil fuels. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Suriname has renewable energy targets of 20%, 28% and 47% of its electricity generation to be reached by last year, 2022 and 2027, respectively.

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