New round yields ‘notably low’ bids for renewable power projects

AMMAN — The government received “notably low” bids during the third round of submissions for a new wind power project, Energy Minister Hala Zawati said on Thursday.

During open bidding, six offers were made by representatives from bidding companies, the lowest of which was 18.33 fils per kilowatt-hour (kWh), a competitive figure both regionally and internationally, according to a statement from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

“The bids presented notably low prices,” Zawati said, adding that the current round’s average bid was 37.4fils/kWh.

She noted that this figure is 47 per cent less than the highest price of 70fils/kWh given to the government.

"These figures reflect Jordan’s success in attracting investors from within the renewable energy sector, especially those focused on wind energy," Zawati said.

"Once the new project, set to operate at a capacity of 50 megawatts (MW), is complete, wind energy’s contribution to Jordan’s energy mix will increase to 667MW," read the statement, adding that 11 per cent of the Kingdom’s electricity currently stems from renewables.

Renewable energy is forecast to account for 20 per cent of Jordan’s electricity needs by 2020, according to the statement.

The statement also detailed the lowest offer for solar energy projects, which was 17.64663fils/kWh, adding that it set a “regional and international record” within the field.

The Cabinet previously exempted the third phase of bidding from a decision to stop floating tenders until the “Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is done with studies currently under way”.