Negev Solar Power Plant Tender To Be Opened To Foreign Firms
by Hana Levi Julian
Solar Collector
(IsraelNN.com) The government will open to foreign companies bidding on construction of a new solar power plant in the Negev, without requiring an Israeli business partner.
The government wants to avoid restricting the competition to the two eligible Israeli firms: Luz-2 and Sol.
Another reason for opening the bidding to international firms is attract to Israel's energy development program foreign expertise and experience as well as money.
The plant is expected to produce 250 megawatts of electricity, but that figure is variable, depending on which technology will be used for the station.
The plant will be located near Ashalim, about 55 kilometers southeast Gaza, out of range of current Kassam rocket attacks by Palestinian Authority terrorists, and 30 kilometers from the Egyptian border.
The tender is for a "Build-Operate-Transfer" program, whereby the winning company builds the plant, operates it until the first license runs out and then transfers it to the government.
The first stage of the tender, which includes planning the project, is due to be published within the next month, according to a report in Haaretz.
The Tenders Committee, headed by Finance Ministry deputy accountant-general Avi Dor, is hoping to complete the tender process by the end of 2008.