Pakistan decides to import two floating solar power plants

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (SABAH): Pakistan has decided to import two floating solar power plants, first of their kind in Pakistan, and has approached the World bank for financing of the import of such unique floating solar power plants. 

A 150 MW solar power plant to be floated at Terbela Dam surface water and second on floating solar power plant to be floated at Ghazi Broatha hydro power, surface water. Both the floating power plants would enable to generate some 300 mw least expensive power for the country.

The constriction of hydro power projects, for cheapest power generation, have gone beyond reach of Pakistan’s financial resources and Thermal power plant’s are no more feasible as the production of thermal power is costing country Rs.24 to Rs45 per unit. The only option available to Pakistan is to tap the alternate options available to it and Idea for opting the Floating solar power plant is the least expensive would be able to provide Pakistan required least cost power within minimum timeframe, an official at energy Ministry of Energy told.

Pakistan has asked the World Bank to provide part of the proceeds toward payments under the Contract for Design, Supply, Installation, commissioning and Testing of 300 MW Floating Solar Plant in Tarbela- Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Complex.

In this regards, Pakistan has applied for financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the implementation of Floating Solar in Pakistan Project. The work consists of Design, Supply, Installation, Commissioning and Testing of 150 MW Floating Solar Plant in Ghazi Barrage Pond (District Haripur) and 150 MW Floating Solar Plant in Barotha Forebay Pond (District Attock).

WAPDA, on behalf of the Wolrd bank now has invited sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for Floating Solar Plants for Design, Supply, Installation, Commissioning and Testing of 300 MW in Ghazi Barrage Pond and Barotha Forebay Pond of Ghazi Barotha Hydro Power Project, with 2 years of delivery/Construction period.

Bidding will be conducted through international competitive procurement using a Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Fifth Edition September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”) and is open to all eligible Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations, the official document revealed.

Interested Bidders have been instructed to obtain further information from the Office of Chief Engineer/Project Director, T5HP, Tarbela Dam, Ghazi-Haripur. The expected bidders have been asked to purchase bidding document, upon the submission of a written application to the above address and upon payment of PKR 10,000 (non-refundable).

The expected biders have been asked that bids must be delivered to WAPDA Auditorium WAPDA House, Lahore, Pakistan on or before 12 March 2024.

Electronic bidding will not be permitted. Late Bids will be rejected. All bids must be accompanied by Bid Security of USD 4,500,000 (Four Million and Five hundred thousand US Dollars), or its equivalent in another freely convertible currency calculated on the basis of the selling exchange rate issued by Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan on the date of 28 days prior to the date of bids opening.