North Macedonia’s state-owned power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija has reissued a tender to select a partner for developing 100 MW of solar projects through a public-private partnership model in North Macedonia.

The company had first issued the tender in February 2020 but only two bids were received.

Applicants are required to pay 3% of the bid value as a bid guarantee for the tender and 15% of a bid value as a guarantee for the quality performance of the contract. The last date for submission of bids is March 12, 2021.

The scope of work includes the design and construction of two 50 MW solar projects at REK Oslomej mining and power complex.

The tender was initially issued in February 2020. At that time, Janez Kopač, Director of the Secretariat at Energy Community had said, “With this project, North Macedonia shows an excellent example of how coal regions can be profitably transformed, providing new employment opportunities for former coal workers and driving sustainable regional development.” The Energy Community is an international organization that brings together the European Union and its neighbors to create an integrated pan-European energy market.

To participate in the competitive bidding process, bidders must have constructed solar projects with an installed capacity of at least 25 MW or participated as a subcontractor in the last ten years. Alternatively, bidders must have operated renewable energy projects with an installed capacity of 25 MW in the last ten years.

Applicants must have a cumulative income of at least €30 million (~$36.23 million) in the last three years. Companies, which have been in existence for less than three years, must have an average annual income of €10 million (~$12.07 million).

Last month, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a €1 million (~$1.22 million) loan for North Macedonia’s largest bank Komercijalana Banka Skopje under its green economy financing facility to support green investments in the country.

EBRD also said it is investing €75 million (~$ 88.04 million) in the Eurobond tap issuance by Hellenic Petroleum. The total funds of €100 million (~$ 117.43 million) will help Hellenic Petroleum to finance the construction of 18 solar photovoltaic projects with a total installed capacity of 204 MW in Kozani, Western Macedonia, Greece’s most coal-dependent region.

Coal-fired thermal and hydropower projects are the main sources of power in North Macedonia. The country’s total installed power capacity is about 2.06 GW of 48% is thermal and 34% is large and small hydropower projects, 15% combined gas-fired projects, and about 3% of renewables. Elektrani na Severna Makedonija  (ESM), is a state-owned electric utility owning 70% of the total installed capacity. ESM is the owner of the two large coal-fired thermal power plants, Bitola and Oslomej.