Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has canceled the tender process for two photovoltaic solar projects just prior to submission date.
According to sources, the cancelation of the tender had been expected since the launching of 9.5 GW National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) in February. The Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources aims keep all of the major renewable energy projects under the umbrella of the NREP.
As we reported in July 2016, SEC launched a request for pre-qualifications to develop the two 50 MW projects to be located in Al-Jouf and Rafha, and in October 2017, it prequalified 18 groups:
SEC had planned to select shortlisted bidders for the projects (IPPs) by the 31 March 2017, and had aimed to sign the power purchase agreements (PPAs) on 1 May 2017.