The interministerial tender committee for the construction of solar power stations at the Ashalim site in the Negev, today published the documents in the public tender for the construction of a photovoltaic power station with a capacity of 30 MW. The tender is on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis, with the winner required to finance, build, operate and maintain the power station during a concession period totaling 27 years, at the end of which it will transfer the power station to the state.

This is the second stage in the tender process, following an initial prequalification stage in which ten bidding groups were shortlisted. According to the timetable set by the committee, the deadline for submitting bids in the tender is March 1, 2011.

This power station is in addition to two thermosolar power stations which are to be set up in the area, each with a capacity of 80-110 MW. The entire project is planned to provide 2% of Israel's total electricity production and constitutes a major milestone in meeting the government target of generating 10% of electric power from renewable energy sources by 2020.

The interministerial tender committee consists of representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Infrastructures and the Public Utilities Authority (Electricity). The committee is chaired by Mr. Gil Shabtai, the senior deputy accountant general in the ministry of finance.