Paraguay’s 140 MW Loma Plata solar tender advances with World Bank support under new renewable energy framework

The Administración Nacional de Electricidad (ANDE) held a technical meeting with World Bank specialists Lucía Spinelli and Florencia Balestro, alongside consultant Mario Vignolo, to review adjustments to the tender specifications for the 140 MW Central Solar Fotovoltaica de Loma Plata in Boquerón department. The modifications incorporate feedback received during a June 1 public hearing and establish technical, legal and economic parameters designed to ensure transparent evaluation of private sector proposals. The project requires an estimated investment of USD 140 million from the winning bidder, with the facility connecting to the national grid through a 220 kV substation at Loma Plata.

The tender process experienced multiple delays throughout 2024 as authorities navigated regulatory adjustments required under the new legislative framework. Vice Minister of Mines and Energy Mauricio Bejarano explained that ANDE’s energy procurement structure faced normative barriers within public contracting law, particularly since this represents the first occasion the utility will purchase alternative energy from private generators. Authorities identified critical issues including the extension of contract terms from 15 to 30 years and restrictions preventing consortiums from competing or winners from transferring projects to other entities.

Officials feared the tender could fail without these regulatory modifications, prompting efforts to align procurement rules with international best practices. The government aims to establish a dynamic framework comparable to Argentina’s RenovAr program rather than executing a single isolated transaction. The delay also prompted consideration of expanding the project’s capacity from the initially planned 100 MW to 140 MW, reflecting growing confidence in renewable energy integration despite Paraguay’s historically hydropower-dominated matrix.

Law 7599/2025 replaced the previous Law 6977/2023 and explicitly recognizes solar photovoltaic, wind, biomass and geothermal generation within the non-conventional renewable energy regime. Article 24 specifically authorizes ANDE to conduct international public tenders and execute electricity purchase contracts lasting up to three decades. The legislation also formally recognizes energy storage systems, establishing that authorities may set reference prices for renewable energy acquisition with or without storage components, creating potential pathways for future hybrid solar-plus-battery procurements. The regulatory framework includes provisions for reference tariffs to remunerate surplus energy from self-generators and co-generators connected to the distribution network.