Ethiopia Scales Up 'Scaling Solar Program'

The government has scaled up the Scaling Solar Program from four to six projects with a total capacity to generate up to 750MW following the new financing received from the World Bank Group.

The program, which is in its second phase, was originally planned to finance independent solar projects in Weranso, Welenchiti, Humera, and Mekele to generate 500MW.

The latest announcement by the World Bank to provide guarantees for private sector participation in generating alternative power source led to the addition of two sites in Metema, Bahir Dar and Hurso with a capacity of generating an extra 250MW of energy.

Accordingly, a tender announced for the selection of pre-qualified bidders was amended with an extended deadline of June 9, 2019.

Currently managed by the Public-Private Partnerships Directorate under the Ministry of Finance, the two-year Scaling Solar Program was launched in 2015 by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC). The project aims at providing the governments of Sub-Saharan countries with alternative electricity supply solutions and creating a new market for solar investment by promoting privately funded grid-connected solar projects at competitive tariffs.

IFC supervises the entire process all the way from project preparation through project audit and financing to the commissioning of the large-scale solar plants.

Ethiopia is the fourth country to join the program following Zambia, Senegal and Madagascar. In March, Zambia’s Scaling Solar round one program became fully operational by providing 54MW of solar power built at a cost of 56 million dollars.

In the first round of the project, 11 pre-qualified bidders were shortlisted, and they are expected to submit their final proposals to Ethiopian Electric Power before June 28, 2019.

Two months ago 12 pre-qualified developers were shortlisted to develop two solar projects, each with a capacity of up to 125MW under the country's Scaling Solar round one project. However, one of the qualified bidders has withdrawn due to legal issues. The 12 pre-qualified developers were selected from 28 developers, who submitted their proposals in response to a tender announced at the end of 2017.

The winning company will be chosen according to its lowest proposed tariff. The government will then enter into a long-term contract that stretches between 20 to 25 years with the winner, executing a power purchase agreement at an agreed upon tariff. After buying the power from the companies, the government will transmit and distribute the power according to its own tariff.