Greece's PPC, China’s CWE File Bids in Hydro Power Tender in Macedonia

SKOPJE (Macedonia), December 15 (SeeNews) – Macedonia said on Thursday that Greek state-owned power company PPC and China’s CWE have placed bids in the second phase of a tender for the construction of two hydro power plants.

Macedonia had shortlisted ten candidates for the second stage of the tender for the construction of the Cebren and Galiste hydro power stations on the Crna river, in the country's south.

The construction works may start in a year and a half once a deal is signed with the successful bidder, the government said in a statement, quoting economy minister Valon Saracini.

A report on the outcome of the tendering procedure is expected to be drafted by the end of 2011 in cooperation with the tender consultant, the International Finance Corporation, and then submitted to the government which will decide if the bids are technically sound and whether to award the concession, the statement said.

The two hydro power plants will have a combined capacity of 526 megawatts. The cost of the project is estimated at a combined 600-700 million euro ($780-$909 million).

The winner of the tender will build Cebren and Galiste in public-private partnership with Macedonian state-owned power producer ELEM and will then operate the plants under a concession arrangement.

According to the statement, PPC has proposed that ELEM hold a 28% stake in the planned power plants while CWE is offering 40.5%.

($=0.7696 euro)

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