Ethiopia Electric Power (EEP) invites bids by 11 May from experienced international private developers or developer consortia to finance, develop, own and operate the 798 MW Dabus Stage 1 and Stage 2 hydro projects in the southwestern region of Oromia.
The two projects are to be developed as a cascade on the river Dabus, a north-flowing tributary of the river Abbay, on a build, operate and transfer basis, with the entire capacity and output to be sold to EEP, the state-owned power utility, under a long-term power purchase agreement. The proposed projects are described in detail in the tender documentation with respective reconnaissance and feasibility studies, as well as the PPA and implementation agreement to be made available to allow for bid preparation. Prefeasibility and feasibility studies, as well as an environmental and social impact assessment, have been carried out on Dabus 1 and 2 by Italy’s Studio Pietrangeli, on behalf of the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy. Both plants are designed with gravity-type RCC dams and open surface powerhouses. According to the engineering consultants, Dabus 1 will comprise a 55 m-high dam with a crest length of 1610 m, with water conveyed through a 5.5 km-long, 9 m diameter headrace tunnel and two 2.1 km-long, 7 m-diameter penstocks to the powerhouse. The Dabus 1 plant will have an installed capacity of 304 MW, and is expected to generate average annual output of 1293 GWh under a gross head of 149 m and maximum turbine flow of 250 m3/s. Dabus 2 will comprise an 88 m-high dam with a crest length of 444 m, with water conveyed through a 6.2 km-long, 9 m-diameter headrace tunnel and two 1 km-long, 5 m-diameter penstocks to the powerhouse. The Dabus 2 plant will have an installed capacity of 494 MW, and is expected to generate average annual output of 2140 GWh under a gross head of 230 m and maximum turbine flow of 254 m3/s.
Bidders will be required to demonstrate their experience, as well as their capacity to finance, develop and operate large-scale hydropower projects. The competitive tender process will select a developer on the basis of the lowest development cost and most favourable offtake price, in accordance with bid evaluation procedures and criteria specified in the bidding document. A complete set of bidding documents for Tender identification number: EEP/PMO/ICB/IPP/02/2018-Dabus is available upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Ethiopian Birr 5000 (US$ 181), by cash or cashier’s cheque, to the procurement office of Ethiopian Electric Power, located at its head office at the below-mentioned address. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security equal to US$ 3 million. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 14.00 hrs local time on 11 May 2018. Electronic bidding is not permitted.
Birbir 1 and 2
Meanwhile EEP is also seeking to appoint an experienced international private developer or developer consortium to finance, develop, own and operate the 564 MW Birbir stage 1 and 2 hydropower cascade in southwestern Ethiopia. The deadline for bids is 11 May.
The projects, which are to be located on the river Birbir, a tributary of the Baro, are to be developed on a build, operate and transfer basis, with the entire capacity and output to be sold to EEP, the state-owned power utility, under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA).
The scope of works will entail carrying out additional site investigations as required, followed by the design, construction, and supply, installation, testing and commissioning of electro- and hydromechanical equipment for the Birbir stage 1 and 2 projects. The winning developer will own and operate the cascade for the period of the concession before transferring ownership to EEP.
EEP previously invited prequalification bids in March 2016 from EPC contractors for the 97.4 MW Birbir A and 467 MW Birbir R projects. At the time, both plants were designed with rockfill dams with central clay cores, ungated spillways and open surface powerhouses. Birbir R was designed with a 177 m-high dam with a crest length of 740 m, as well as a plant equipped with six 78 MW vertical Francis turbines, and Birbir A was to comprise a 57 m-high dam with a crest length of 730 m, and a powerhouse with two 48.7 MW vertical Francis turbines.
Bidders will be required to demonstrate their experience, as well as their capacity to finance, develop and operate large-scale hydro projects. Bids will be evaluated on the basis of development cost and offtake price demands, in accordance with bid evaluation procedures and criteria specified in the bidding documents. The proposed projects are described in detail in the tender documentation with respective reconnaissance and feasibility studies as well as the PPA and implementation agreement to be made available to allow for bid preparation. A complete set of bidding documents is available on payment of a non-refundable fee of Birr 5000 (US$ 181), by cash or cashier’s cheque, to the procurement office of Ethiopian Electric Power, located at its head office at the below-mentioned address. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security equal to US$ 6.5 million. Bids must be delivered to the address by 14.00 hrs local time, on 11 May 2018. Electronic bidding is not permitted.
For further information, contact: Tesfaye Tamirat, Director, EEP Procurement, Logistics and Warehouses, Procurement office, Ground Floor, Room number 01, behind Awash International Bank Head Quarters, near the AAU College of Commerce, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tel: +251 115 580597/0781;
Email: eep.procure@gmail.com; eepproclog@eep.gov.et
