21 firms eye Zambia's second solar power project

21 firms eye Zambia's second solar power project

LUSAKA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-one firms have submitted applications for round two of Zambia's second solar power project, the government's investment company said on Wednesday.

In March this year, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) invited the private sector to submit bids for the phase two of the solar program.

The second phase comes in the wake of the successful tender for up to 100 megawatts of solar projects in the first phase which was awarded to French firm, Neoen S.A.S. The second phase involves the development of about 200 megawatts of solar plants.

The IDC said it was happy with the high caliber of investors interested in the grid-scale power initiative following the closing of submissions on May 5, 2017.

"Bidder turnout was excellent, with submissions that included many leading international renewable energy developers as well as a significant number of local and regional players," it said in a statement.

The statement added that the IDC will announce the successful bidders after evaluating the bids.

Among the bidders include TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis Company Limited and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited of China.

In July 2015, President Edgar Lungu directed the IDC to call for applications in order to commence the process of redressing the current power deficit in the southern African nation.

This followed the signing of an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to develop the solar projects.