“We have received preliminary bids and we’ll likely see financial bids this year as well,” said the minister, adding there is serious competition for the project estimated to cost EUR1 billion.
“If all goes well, construction may start next year. We might pick a winning bidder within six months,” said Gerea.
Three Chinese consortia are in the race to partner up with the Romanian state to build the hydropower plant, namely Gezhouba Group Company Limited/Wu Lingpower Corporation, China Huadian Engineering/Guizhou Wujiang Hydropower and Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower/Hydrolancang International Energy.
The hydropower plant in Tarnita, on the river Somes in central Romania, is planned to have a capacity of 1,000 MW and will be built in public-private partnership.