NTPC to Help Develop Solar Projects Worth 283 MW in Togo

NTPC has been selected as the Project Management Consultant (PMC) for development about 283 MW solar power Projects in Togo.

NTPC has been selected as the PMC for development about 283 MW solar power Projects in Togo. And the PSU has now been provided with the letter of engagement for the development of the projects by Kondi Mani, Charge d’ Affaire, Embassy of Togo, New Delhi, to Gurdeep Singh, CMD (NTPC), in the august presence of R K Singh, Minister of Power & Renewable Energy.

NTPC had submitted a proposal to ISA requesting endorsement of ISA to Member Countries to give Project Management Consultancy (PMC) to the member Countries for implementation of Solar Projects. As per NTPC Proposal, in ISA member Countries where Solar Projects are implemented through competitive bidding, NTPC may act as a project Management Consultant (PMC).

NTPC will carry out various activities for the selection of Solar Project developers (SPDs) on a competitive basis for setting up Projects on ownership basis and enter into Power Purchase Agreement with government-designated entities.

The scope of PMC includes presentations to the concerned ministries and other stakeholders in ISA Countries for the structuring of Projects, assistance to bring out enabling policy and regulatory framework for competitive procurement of Solar Power, bid process management for selection of Project developers on a competitive basis, structuring PPA, Roof/ Land leasing agreements, etc. The PMC charges of NTPC will be recovered from the selected SPDs. NTPC based on the feasibility may also develop Solar Projects by putting its own equity in Countries where Feed-in Tariff is in force.

Singh expressed his happiness over the development and stated that renewable energy project offers cheaper power. Adding that this resource must be harnessed by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) member countries as renewable energy makes it possible to supply electricity to people living in far-flung areas through a distributed power supply model. He underlined the importance of independent regulators upon stating that under recently evolving model prepaid smart metering helps in smooth billing and collection and the governments need not invest in the projects in which developers take care.

The NFP (National Focal Point) of Togo, based on the endorsement of ISA has sent a communication to DG ISA for engaging NTPC for the PMC services for development of Solar PV Projects/Parks on 70 Hectares of identified land in Dapaong (Dalwak Region: Capacity More than 33 MW) and on 500 Hectares of identified land in Mango (Savanes Region: Capacity About 250 MW). Togo is the first ISA Country to avail the services of NTPC.