Saudi Arabia has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for Round Three of its National Renewable Energy Program (NREP). The RFQ was issued by the Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) of the Ministry of Energy.

According to a report by the Saudi Press Agency, the NREP program aims to build solar power generation in the country. Round Three is said to comprise four solar PV projects with a combined generation capacity of 1,200MW.

The RFQ window closes on February 6 the report said. Interested parties can access RFQ documents through the program’s dedicated procurement portal: www.powersaudiarabia.com.sa.

As per the report, Round Three projects will be divided into two categories: Category A targeting smaller companies and includes the Layla 80MW solar PV and Wadi Al Dawaser 120MW solar PV projects; while Category B includes the Saad 300MW solar PV and Ar Rass 700MW solar PV projects.

Eng. Faisal Al-Yemni, head of REPDO explained that Round Three projects carry a minimum requirement of 17% local content, as calculated by the mechanism defined by the Local Content & Government Procurement Authority, which aims to increase the value-added contribution of products and services in the national economy.

On July 18, 2019, REPDO launched Round Two of the NREP which comprised six solar PV projects amounting to 1,470MW. The deadline for receiving proposals for Round Two projects is January 20, and February 3, 2020, for categories B and A, respectively.