Request for Expressions of Interest for hybridization and optimization of existing mini grids

Ministry of Energy and Minerals

Request for Expressions of Interest

Country: Government of Somaliland

Name of Project: Somaliland Electricity Sector Recovery Project

Project ID: P173088

IDA-No: IDA-D9310

Assignment Title: Request for Expressions of Interest for hybridization and optimization of existing mini grids.

Place of Assignment: Somaliland

1. Background:

The Government of Somaliland has received financing from the World Bank to implement the Somaliland Electricity Sector Recovery Project (SESRP). The Project Development Objective is to increase access to lower cost and cleaner electricity supply in the project areas and to reestablish the electricity supply industry.

The SESRP project comprises of the following four main components: (i) Sub-transmission and distribution network reconstruction, reinforcement, and operations efficiency in the major load center of Hargeisa; (ii) Hybridization and battery storage systems for mini grids; (iii) Stand-alone solar off-grid access to public institutions (Health and Education); (iv) Institutional Development and Capacity Building.

1. The main objective of the assignment is to provide grants to support the Electricity service providers (ESPs) in the energy sector of Somaliland. The activity is aimed to (i) Support the installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) systems at existing diesel-based generation stations in selected load centers; (ii) Increase the efficiency of the existing hybrid mini grids (diesel and solar) by optimizing the generation capacity and synchronization, where possible, reducing the diesel consumption by augmenting the installed capacity with BESS and additional SPV generation.
2. The Ministry of Energy Minerals now seeks to invite eligible Electricity Service Providers (ESPs) on behalf of the Government of Somaliland, GoSL, to express their interest to undertake this assignment. Interested ESPs should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).

1. The short-listing criteria are as follows:
2. The core business of the company and operational experience in the provision of electricity services in Somaliland, including the company profile, organizational structure, and location (geographical) of operations.
3. Eligibility and compliance evidence including but not limited to tax clearance certificate, a valid business registration certificate issued by the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the GoSL along with the permit letter issued by the Somaliland Energy Commission,
4. The electricity Service Providers “ESPs” with installed hybrid SPV systems but without battery storage systems will be of an added advantage.
5. Applicants’ demonstration of in-house technical operational procedures, environmental and social safeguard policies/manuals, gender equality, and/or operational health and safety standards in their operations will be of an added advantage.

Interested applicants may obtain further information such as project related documentations at the address below during office hours from 7:00 to 15.00 hours Hargeisa time (Excluding public holidays).

Expressions of interest (EOI) should be delivered (in person or by e-mail) in a written form in three (3) hard copies (if not by e-mail) to the address below not later than 30th March 2023 at 15:00 Hours (Hargeisa Time). To the address below.

Ministry of Energy and Minerals

Somali Electricity Sector Recovery Project

Project Implementation Unit

Road #1, 26 June Avenue in Sha,ab Area,

Opposite the Presidential Palace,

Hargeisa, Somaliland

Republic of Somaliland

Email: - [email protected], and copy [email protected],

Telephone:00252634247989, 0659102761