ANDE, in coordination with the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP), held a virtual public hearing on Monday, June 1, on the international bidding process for the procurement of solar photovoltaic energy in Loma Plata, in the department of Boquerón, in the Paraguayan Chaco region. The meeting brought together more than 380 participants, including representatives of local and foreign companies interested in the project.
The initiative provides for the construction of a solar photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 140 MW, which will be connected to the National Interconnected System (SIN) at 220 kV. The scope of the procurement includes three main components: the plant itself, a transmission line of approximately 7 kilometers at 220 kV with an output from the Loma Plata Substation, and the expansion of that substation.
During the question-and-answer session, businesspeople from Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil requested technical clarifications on the bidding documents, particularly regarding legal responsibilities and capital requirements. Representatives of the local sector advocated for the inclusion of criteria that favor the participation of Paraguayan companies, with the aim of transferring knowledge, building experience in the segment, and boosting domestic employment.
Engineers Eduardo Viedma and Guillermo Kraus, leading figures in the country's renewable energy sector, hailed what they consider a historic step with the bidding for Paraguay's first large-scale solar photovoltaic plant. At the same time, the private sector urged ANDE to expedite the regulation of Law 3.009/2006, which establishes the legal framework for Independent Electric Energy Production and Transport (PTIEE) and was substantially amended by Law 7299/2024 to encourage private investment in small hydroelectric plants (SHPs). The state utility's president, Félix Sosa, responded that the regulation is already in the hands of the Executive Branch for a decision shortly.
ANDE informed that interested parties may submit queries and suggestions on the bidding documents by June 8 via the email addresses dadli@ande.gov.py and andeplanificacion@gmail.com. The state utility highlighted that the project represents a significant advance in the implementation of national energy transition policies and the harnessing of renewable sources, aligned with the country's sustainable development goals and the growth of electricity demand.