Cambodia invites bids for solar park phase two
Cambodia's electricity utility company Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) opened the bids for the tender of the 40MW National Solar Park project phase two on 17 February, following the launch of the scheme in December 2020. EDC is to sign a 20-year PPA with the successful bidder with no sovereign guarantee and on a take-or-pay basis. The PPA tariff is in US Dollar, while EDC has also allowed up to 12% of the total tariff amount to be paid in Cambodia Riel currency.
The bidders include: China-based Hefei Sungrow Renewable Energy & TECH; China-based Universal Energy; Japan-based Smart Solarl; Malaysia-based PESTECH; China Machinery Engineering; China-based Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower; China-based Trina Solar; Thailand-based Prime Road Alternative; China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation; Spain-based Solarpack Corporacion Tecnologica; China-based Ja Solar International Limited; Solar Philippines Power Project; Sri Lanka-based Ceylex Renewables Private; and UK-based Cypex Renewable energy.
The tender is for the second phase of the planned 100MW National Solar Park project in Kampong Chhnang province, 75km from capital Phnom Penh. EDC is expected to announce the successful bidder in three to four months (2021), with the project reaching a commercial operations date in 18 months. ADB is the transaction adviser.
Similar to project phase one, EDC is the land lessor for the project and would acquire land and lease it to the project sponsor. Project phase 2 requires about 60ha of land, in which EDC has purchased about 30ha of land. The project will be under a build-own-operate model. However, the project sponsor will have to return the land when its 20-year lease expires after COD. The company would have to negotiate with EDC for further arrangements.
