Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) will host a market consultation event on 11 August during which it will outline plans for the country's first solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power project (IPP).

The Belaj Al-Jazaer solar IPP project will be Bahrain’s first grid-connected solar PV power plant developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework on a build-own-operate basis. It will be delivered as a long-term concession and is intended to come online by 2027.

The proposed site covers more than 1 square kilometre, with the private sector responsible for end-to-end development, including financing, design, construction and operation.

The market consultation event will be held online and will introduce the project to international and regional investors, developers and technical experts.

Participants will receive a strategic briefing from EWA leadership and the project’s appointed transaction advisers. The local KPMG Fakhro is the financial consultant, the US' WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff is the technical consultant, and the UK's Trowers & Hamlins is the legal consultant.

EWA is fast-tracking the procurement process, with all bids to undergo preliminary financial and technical assessments before proceeding to detailed evaluation.

The construction of solar power plants supports Bahrain’s 2060 net-zero carbon emissions target.