Morocco’s Office National de l’Electricité (One) has invited requests for qualification (RFQs) from developers to build a 150MW wind farm in Taza.

Companies have until 10 December to respond. The bidding process is set to be launched in the first half of 2011.

One has also issued separate RFQs for legal and financial advisers to work on the project. The deadline for legal advisers is 16 November, while financial advisers are to respond by 10 November.

The wind farm will be constructed at a site located 12 kilometres north west of Taza on a build-own-operate-transfer basis. One will agree a 20-year offtake agreement with the chosen developer.

According to One’s bid schedule, bids will be invited in early April 2011, which will be followed by discount offers by the end of July and a successful bidder chosen in October 2011. Project contracts are to be finalised by January 2012 and financial close is to be achieved by July 2012. The project is scheduled for operation by July 2014.

The project is part of Morocco’s plan to develop a 1,000MW wind power programme to assist in the country’s target of 42 per cent of installed capacity based on renewable energy 2020.

The scheme will comprise five wind farms:

• Taza (Taza): 150MW
• Sendouk (Tangier): 150MW
• Baida Koudia II (Tetouan): 300MW
• Tiskrad (Laayoune): 300MW
• Boujdour (Boujdour): 100MW

The wind farms included in the programme will be structured through public-private partnerships whereby One, Société d’Investissement Energétique (SIE) and Hassan II Funds will be partner with one or several strategic partners to set up a project company.