Algeria’s Societe Algerienne de Production de l’Electricite (SPE) has issued a request for qualification (RFQ) to developers for a concentrated solar power (CSP) project.

The winning bidder will design and build a CSP thermal solar project. Part of the funds needed to carry out the solar project will be sourced from the World Bank.

The tender is managed on behalf of SPE by Compagnie de l’Engineering de l’Electricite du Gaz (Ceeg), a subsidiary of local energy company Sonelgaz. Companies are to respond to the RFQ by 25 July.

Algeria has a renewable energy target of 5 per cent of power generation by 2017 and a long-term target of 20 per cent by 2030. CSP is set to be the primary technology for meeting this target.

Algeria has one large-scale solar project already in operation at Hassi R’Mel. The Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) has a capacity of 150MW and comprises a solar field of parabolic troughs capable of generating 20MW and gas-fired turbines.