EGP participates to the tender in a group which also included Spain-based ACS-SCE. The other three selected groups are formed by:
Orascom CI, Solar Millenium and Evonik Steag;
ACWA, Aries IS and TSK EE;
Abeinsa ICI, Abengoa Solar, Mitsui and Abu Dhabi NEC.
The pre-selection was based on the submitted files, regarding design, funding, construction, management and maintenance of the plant in its first stage.
With a capacity of 500 MW, the Ouarzazate (central Morocco) is expected to be fully online by 2015. MASEN specified that the technology chosen in this first stage is thermal dynamics with parabolic collectors, like the ones used by Enel for the Archimede solar plant at Priolo (Syracuse). In the following phases, one of which will be launched in 2011 and another one in 2012, different types of facilities could also be developed, but at least one will have to be a solar photovoltaic plant.
The project is included in a broader programme for the development of renewable sources, which foresees an investment amounting to 6.8 billion euros for the installation of 2,000 MW of solar energy by 2019.
www.masen.org.ma/upload/news/Masen_OZZ_RFQ_Pre-Qualifies_fr.pdf