Saudi Arabia Reveals Bidders for 3rd Phase of Renewable Energy Projects

A solar plant is seen in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 10, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
A solar plant is seen in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 10, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Saudi Arabia Reveals Bidders for 3rd Phase of Renewable Energy Projects

A solar plant is seen in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 10, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
A solar plant is seen in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 10, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced the list of bidders of 1,200 MW Saudi renewable energy projects, consisting of four independent generation projects (IPP).

This phase consists of four independent solar photovoltaic generation projects with a total capacity of 1,200 megawatts, divided into two categories.

In a statement, the ministry said that the first category consists of the Wadi Al-Dawasir project with a capacity of 120 MW and the Laila project with a capacity of 80 MW.

The second category consists of the Al-Rass project with a capacity of 700 MW and the Saad project with a capacity of 300 MW.

The ministry added that a Request for Proposal brochure was issued for the two category B projects on April 8, 2020, and the two category A projects on April 22, 2020. Three bids were submitted for each of the four projects during the second quarter of 2021.

The winning bids will sign power purchase agreements for a period of 25 years with the Saudi Energy Procurement Company. ACWA Power, French Total Solar Company and AlFanar Energy Company were among the bidders.

All four projects are required to comply with local content requirements based on the mechanisms identified by the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, the ministry underlined.

This comes as part of the efforts of the Ministry of Energy to achieve the objectives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ renewable energy initiative.

The initiative aims to increase the percentage of renewable energy to reach the optimal mix, raise the efficiency of the electricity sector, and achieve environmental goals by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, as well as the economic goals of reducing dependence on liquid fuels in electricity production.



Saudi Arabia Allows Foreigners to Invest in Firms with Property in Makkah, Madinah

The CMA said that under Monday's move foreign investment would be limited to shares, convertible debt instruments, or both. SPA
The CMA said that under Monday's move foreign investment would be limited to shares, convertible debt instruments, or both. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Allows Foreigners to Invest in Firms with Property in Makkah, Madinah

The CMA said that under Monday's move foreign investment would be limited to shares, convertible debt instruments, or both. SPA
The CMA said that under Monday's move foreign investment would be limited to shares, convertible debt instruments, or both. SPA

Saudi Arabia's market regulator said on Monday it would allow foreign investment in listed companies that own real estate within Islam's two holiest sites of Makkah and Madinah.

Saudi Arabia's market watchdog, the Capital Market Authority (CMA), said in a statement the move aimed to attract foreign capital and provide liquidity for present and future projects in the two cities.

The CMA said that under Monday's move foreign investment would be limited to shares, convertible debt instruments, or both, and would exclude "strategic foreign investors.”

It added that people without Saudi nationality would not be allowed to own more than 49% of shares of the firms involved.

In 2021, it allowed non-Saudis to subscribe to real estate funds investing within the boundaries of Makkah and Madinah.