Three bidders for Villonaco II and III wind projects in Ecuador

The Government of Ecuador has revealed the final bidder for the concession, construction, and operation of the new Eolic Villonaco II and III and photovoltaic El Aromo electricity generation projects after the deadline has for the submission of the tender has ended on October 12, 2020. 

The Technical Selection Commission appointed by the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources (MERNNR), proceeded with the opening of envelope No. 1 (technical offer), in an act that was attended by the delegates of the international companies that participated in the Public Selection Process. The opening of envelope No. 2, which corresponds to the economic offer, will take place on November 27, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. and on December 4, the process will end with the award or declaration of void.

The Villonaco II and III wind projects will be developed at the Membrillo-Ducal and Huayrapamba sites (Loja province), with a nominal power of 110 megawatts; and the El Aromo photovoltaic plant will be developed on the site of the same name, together with the platforms that were enabled for the failed project of the Pacific Refinery, in Manta (Manabí province) and will have an installed power of 200 megawatts. The development of the two projects will require a private investment of approximately 400 million dollars.

The companies that submitted bids for the Villonaco II and III wind projects were: Neoen SA, Consorcio Cobra Zero-E, and Total Eren; and for the El Aromo photovoltaic project: Neoen SA, Consortium Cobra Zero-E, and Solarpackt EAM.

The call for the public selection process was held on August 28, 2019, and the deadline for writing the proposals, clarifying questions and answers, ended in May of this year. However, due to the health crisis caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, the deadlines were modified and Monday, October 12, 2020, was determined as the deadline for the delivery of offers.