North Macedonia: Tender for HPP Cebren concession extended due to coronavirus outbrake

The Government of North Macedonia has extended the deadline for the invitation for the expression of interest in a concession contract for the construction of hydropower plant Cebren on the Crna Reka river, which will be developed in partnership with state-owned power utility ESM.

In February, the Government informed that seven companies have requested access to the documentation during the pre-selection phase. The plant should have installed capacity of 333 MW, with estimated annual electricity production of 1,000 GWh, and should cost around 570 million euros. As a part of future private-public partnership, ESM plans to include HPP Tikves in the project company. The two HPPs will use water from the same source and can only function at the same time if they are managed by a single entity. Procedure for construction of HPPs Cebren and Galiste is the longest tender procedure in the history of Macedonia. Both HPPs will be built on Crna Reka River, and they are offered as a package, not individually, although there were talks that only HPP Cebren would be built. Construction works for both HPPs are estimated to last 7 years. HPPs Cebren and HPP Galiste along with existing HPP Tikves should become one hydro cascade system.