Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., June 10, 2008 Sivan 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:33 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 05:26 06/03/2008 Gov't to issue tenders for Negev solar power plants on Friday By Avi Bar-Eli and Moti Bassok Tags: Power plants, government  After years of dead-end discussions, the tender for a solar power station at Ashalim in the Negev is off to a start. The inter-ministerial tenders committee will publish the prerequisites for tender participants Friday. The government is expected to issue two separate tenders for the estimated $650 million project. The international tender will be held for the construction and operation of two thermo-solar power stations with a production capacity of 80-125 megawatts, or 2% of Israel's electricity production, on a buy-own-transfer (BOT) basis. Advertisement This is the second large-scale solar energy project announced this week, after Arava Power publicized plans for an extensive photovoltaic power station in the southern Arava with a capacity of up to 500 megawatts. This private initiative is contingent upon the financial liability of operating the station - in other words, the price that the Electric Corporation will pay for the electricity produced. Knowledgeable sources say that a disagreement between the finance and infrastructure ministries over construction of an additional station utilizing photovoltaic technology has also been resolved, and the tenders committee will issue separate prerequisites for the estimated $60 million tender for this station by the end of March. The third station will have a production capacity of about 15 megawatts. The tenders committee, headed by senior deputy accountant general Avi Dor, is expected to include prerequisites of experience in construction operation and maintenance of solar powered stations, in addition to financial capability. Competitors that meet these prerequisites will be invited by the committee to submit offers. As reported in recent months, the tender has attracted a great deal of interest from leading energy firms worldwide. Representatives of most of these have already visited Israel to review details of the upcoming tender. Israeli companies are expected to participate in the project, mainly in the capacity of construction contractors. The tenders are a realization of the promise made by National Infrastructures Minister Benjamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer to produce 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy by the year 2020. "The solar tender at Ashalim is a keystone in the ministry's policy to introduce renewable energy sources into Israel" Ben-Eliezer said Wednesday, speaking from Washington where he is attending a conference on renewable energy. The tender will lead Israel into an era in which the use of renewable energy and reduction of pollutants will be necessities, he explained. Treasury accountant general Shuki Oren said that this constitutes the largest ever public-private partnership (PPP) tender issued by the state in the energy sector. "In light of the success of other PPP projects, and with the lessons learned, this is the most suitable mechanism for such a complex project" added Oren. Related articles: Sde Boker makes solar energy viable Renewable energy is coming of age 'Green' power takes center stage at Eilat energy conference Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sign of life Family of abducted IDF solider Gilad Shalit receives new sign of life. Happy Jews San Francisco museum details positive impact of Jews on city.   1.   Economics for peanuts 10:20  |  S 06/03/08   2.   NOT a good idea as solar cells are FRAGILE 17:20  |  The Archives 10/06/08   3.   What about increasing wind turbines? 17:21  |  The Archives 10/06/08

Read & React Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter Responses: 93 Israeli envoy to London: U.K. has become hotbed of anti-Israeli views Responses: 116 Arab towns to hand out 'Nakba' alternative history booklet outside schools Responses: 60 Moshe Arens: Israeli politicians using Iran threat to ignore Gaza rockets, cede Golan Responses: 23 Rosner's Domain Lieberman for VP? Only 18% want it (WTR) On a par with the policies of President Bush Threatening Iran is wrong (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him? More Headlines 17:23 Top MI officer: Hamas fears broad IDF Gaza op 17:03 Olmert: Next U.S. administration may not be as accommodating 15:40 Hamas: IAF strike kills 3 Gaza mortar gunners 17:06 Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter 15:24 Mubarak stays away from Med union summit to shun Assad 09:50 Israeli envoy to London: U.K. has become hotbed of radical anti-Israeli views 14:41 Israeli satellite commercial has new star - Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 09:41 Congress gets behind Israel's aid request 14:20 Poll: 90% of public believes Israeli leadership rife with corruption 11:48 Poland loses to Germany in Euro, as 1939 Nazi conquest again makes headlines 14:57 Brothers in 'honor killing' released to house arrest due to legal delays 12:51 Palestinians: Israel transfers delayed tax money, but millions missing 17:00 Arab towns to distribute 'Nakba' alternative history booklet outside schools 11:31 Jewish pilot tapped for U.S. Air Force chief position Previous Editions Select Day 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may

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