Jordan’s National Electric Power Company (Nepco) has prequalified almost 40 companies to participate in the tender for the estimated $170m Green Corridor electricity grid project.

Jordan’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ibrahim Saif has announced that 38 firms have been prequalified to participate in the grid scheme, with the ministry having whittled down the list from 82 contractors that submitted prequalification documents.

The Green Corridor project has been designed to facilitate the significant renewable energy capacity that will come online over the next 5 years. The Green Corridor will boost the grid’s capacity, currently standing at about 3,600MW, by an additional 1,000MW.

The European Investment Bank will provide a loan of $72m for the project, with the French Development Agency reported to be providing a soft loan of up to $54.9m. The EU will also supplement the financing with a grant, with Nepco expected to contribute about $12m to the total cost of the scheme.