Elektroprivreda (EPCG) has reissued the tender for constructing a small hydropower plant (MHE), with a total value of 6.8 million euros including value added tax (VAT). Submissions for bids will be accepted until January 31.

The official announcement for the tender was made on December 30, as reported by the mining news outlet.

This comes just a few days after a previous tender, valued at seven million euros excluding VAT, was annulled on December 24. The Commission for Public Procurement Procedures determined that EPCG continued the process despite receiving a complaint from the Permonte / Bantroy consortium.

The Commission’s ruling allows for an appeal to the administrative court within 20 days of its publication.

In October, EPCG communicated expectations regarding the construction of this hydropower plant, projecting a timeline of 18 to 24 months, with operations anticipated to commence by the end of 2026. However, the annulment and reissuance of the tender may lead to delays.

The previous tender was announced on April 30 last year and ran until June 28, with an estimated value of 8.47 million euros. It received three proposals from the Permonte / Bantroy consortium, Elnos Engineering, and Wigoris Ecotech. The bid selected as the most advantageous on September 12 was from Vigoris Ecotech, worth 6.79 million euros excluding VAT. This decision allowed for a ten-day appeal period.

At that point, the bids from the Permonte / Bantroy consortium and Elnos Engineering were excluded from consideration due to improper documentation. Subsequently, on September 23, an appeal against the selection of the most favorable offer was filed by the Permonte / Bantroy consortium. EPCG rejected this complaint on September 30, noting that the appeal was submitted by a consortium not participating in the tender.