In brief
- ESI Africa reported on 15 January 2025 that the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Somalia issued a tender for a 10 MWp solar PV plant with 20 MWh of battery storage in Garowe, Puntland.
- The notice states the work is financed under the World Bank's Somali Electricity Sector Recovery Project and covers design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning, plus a 9 km 33 kV evacuation line for NECSOM.
- The source is a tender invitation only: it records a delivery period of 15 to 18 months from the effective date, and no award or construction is reported.
Contents
ESI Africa reported on 15 January 2025 that the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Somalia issued a tender for a hybrid solar project in Garowe, Puntland, financed by the World Bank under the Somali Electricity Sector Recovery Project.
What the source records
According to ESI Africa, the notice covers design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a 10 MWp solar PV plant with a 20 MWh battery energy storage system, plus a 9 km 33 kV evacuation line for the National Energy Corporation of Somalia (NECSOM). The required capacity is a minimum of 10 MWp and 20 MWh of consumable energy, minimum, in the 290 hectares of Garowe, Puntland. The source gives a delivery period of 15 to 18 months from the effective date, a bid deadline of 10 February 2025, and a virtual pre-bid conference on 23 January 2025 at 10:30am Mogadishu time.
What it means on site
For anyone watching Garowe's power supply, the tender sets the size and the delivery route. The scope puts the solar array, the battery bank and the evacuation line in one contract, so the winning bidder carries the interface between generation and the NECSOM network. The 290 hectare figure describes the site area named in the notice, not the land footprint of the plant itself. A civil works package of this kind normally turns on ground preparation, drainage and cable routes, so ask the Project Implementation Unit which site investigation records exist.
What the source does not establish
The source is a tender invitation dated 15 January 2025. It does not report an award, a contract signature, a start on site or any construction. The 15 to 18 month delivery period is a requirement in the notice, not a completed programme, and the 10 MWp and 20 MWh figures are stated minimums for bidding, not installed capacity. Nothing in the source sets out the present condition of the site or the state of the grid in Garowe. The record that would confirm progress is the contract award notice or a later project report from the Ministry or the World Bank.
What to do next
Ask the Project Implementation Unit office on Airport Road in Mogadishu, or the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, for the bidding document and any award notice for this tender. Request the site layout, the geotechnical records for the Garowe plot, and the NECSOM interconnection point for the 9 km line.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity does the Garowe solar tender require?
ESI Africa reported on 15 January 2025 that the required capacity is a minimum of 10 MWp of solar PV with 20 MWh of battery energy storage, plus a 9 km 33 kV evacuation line for NECSOM.
Who is financing the Garowe solar project?
The notice, as reported by ESI Africa on 15 January 2025, states the Federal Government of Somalia has received World Bank financing toward the Somali Electricity Sector Recovery Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds to this project.
Has the Garowe solar contract been awarded?
The source is a tender invitation with a bid deadline of 10 February 2025. It does not report an award or any construction, so the contract status is not established by that notice.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Garowe and Puntland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.