Maldives has opened the opportunity for bidders who participated in the pre-qualification process for the installation of 11 MW Solar PV systems across six major islands.

The Ministry of Environment rolled out the project in collaboration with the World Bank’s Accelerating Renewable Energy Integration and Sustainable Energy (ARISE) project in the Maldives under which comes the Accelerating Sustainable Private Investment in Renewable Energy (ASPIRE) project.

As such, 11 MW solar PV systems will be established in Addu City, Fuvahmulah City, Kulhudhuffushi City, Thinadhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll, Eydhafushi island in Baa atoll and Hinnavaru island Lhaviyani atoll.

The deadline for interested individuals to submit their bids has been set at October 14.

61 companies had initially registered for the pre-qualification process of which 34 companies had submitted pre-qualification proposals.

Under this project, the government will be evaluating those who submit proposals in the pre-qualification process, if they are financially stable enough to carry out such projects and only companies that meet the requirements may be allowed to propose bids.

Of the companies that made proposals, 12 companies have been invited to submit their bids for the project.

The ASPIRE project is set to begin across six major islands in 2022.

Further, the ARISE project will see solar PV systems installed in 14 islands. The opportunity to propose in the project was opened on June 17.

During the UN Climate Action Summit held in September 2019, then Minister of Environment Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan had announced a target to boost share of renewable energy up to 70 percent by 2030, as part of efforts to reinforce the commitment to the government’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP).