Ecuador looks to award Villonaco wind, El Aromo photovoltaic projects in September

The Ecuadoran government plans to award the Villonaco II and Villonaco III wind projects and the El Aromo photovoltaic project in mid-September.

Deputy electricity minister, Luis Vintimilla, said during a virtual conference that the reception of offers will take place on July 30 and that questions are currently being received from interested parties.

"If all goes well, by mid-September we will have a contractor or contractors [who have] been awarded the two projects," said Vintimilla.

With an investment of US$200mn, Villonaco II and III, located in the southern Loja province, will generate 110MW.

Meanwhile, El Aromo will generate 200MW and require an investment of US$180mn.

Source: Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources

The concession period for the projects will be 25 years in the case of the Villonacos and 20 years for El Aromo.

Villonaco II and III, which are being tendered as a single project, will have a two-year construction period, while a 12 month-period is expected for Aromo.

The concessions for Villonaco II and III and El Aromo include design, construction, operation, and a zero-cost transfer to the state at the end of the contract.