Armenia’s Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources announced it has pre-qualified ten companies and consortia for the 55 MW solar power tender issued in early May. In late June, the ministry said it had received overall 20 project proposals.

The ten entities admitted to the second phase of the tender are; China-based developer TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis Co.; a consortium formed by Netherlands-based Subsolar Energy Holding LLC and South Africa’s Phelan Energy Group; an Indian-Korean venture consisting of Korea Electric Power Corporation and Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital Company Private Limited; the Chinese solar module maker Risen Energy Co. Limited; a Middle Eastern consortium led by UAE Access Infra Central Asia Limited; French renewable company Eren Renewable Energy S.A.; a Spanish consortium formed by TSK Electronica and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures; an Italian-Spanish consortium composed by Acciona and Building Energy; an international consortium led by Sky Power Global; and the German developer Enerparc Projects GmbH.

“In the next phase of the tender, developers will submit their proposals with price offers,” said the country’s Ministry of Energy Hayk Harutyunyan. “Preference will be given to the company that presents the lowest and most competitive price proposal,” Harutyunyan said.

The tender process is scheduled to be concluded by the end of 2018, while construction on the plant is planned to begin in 2019.

The tendered 55 MW solar park will be located in Masrik, Gegharkunik province, eastern Armenia, and will require an investment of between $40 million and $60 million. Deputy Minister Hayk Harutyunyan specified that the installation could be expanded to 100 MW at a later stage, depending on the investor’s interest.

The project is part of the national plan for the development of renewable energies and is one of six PV plants with a combined capacity of 110 MW that the government is currently supporting through a recently created ad hoc commission.