Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has invited companies to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the second round of its solar and wind energy direct proposal programme.

Companies have until 14 November to submit EOI documents for the renewable programme.

Under the direct proposal programme, applicants, which can be single companies or joint-ventures, submit proposals for their wind and solar projects, which will be implemented on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis. Applicants selected by the government will receive a memorandum of understanding, which will allow them to proceed with feasibility studies and measurement programmes.

For the second round, the MEMR is prioritising renewable projects, which are to be located in the northern and eastern parts of Jordan that will provide electricity to cover local demand. The size of the projects will be limited to 50MW for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects and 50-100MW for wind power schemes.

In addition to the strategy of using private sector finance to develop its renewable energy projects, Amman is also pushing ahead with projects to build a wind farm and photovoltaic (PV) plant on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC basis).  

In April, MEMR invited companies to prequalify for the contract to build a 65MW-75MW photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Quweira, southern Jordan. In January, firms were invited to tender for a PV solar plant at Azraq, located about 100km east of Jordan’s capital city, Amman.