The National Electricity Administration (ANDE) plans to launch the tender for the construction of the country's first large-scale solar photovoltaic plant during the second half of 2026, according to the institution's president, Félix Sosa, who highlighted that the project is part of the plan to diversify the electricity generation matrix and keep pace with the growth of energy consumption.
The head of ANDE stated, in an interview with 1080 AM, that the initial bet is on projects that depend exclusively on Paraguay and highlighted the country's potential for solar energy development, especially after the approval and regulation of Law No. 7,599, which establishes the framework for electricity generation from renewable sources. The first tender will be for a 140 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant, to be installed in the Boquerón department.
As part of the preparatory process, ANDE has already held a public hearing with the participation of around 380 representatives from the private sector and interested investors. The institution is currently analyzing the observations received to make adjustments to the bidding terms and conditions.
According to Sosa, the capacity is equivalent to more than half of the nominal power of the Acaray Hydroelectric Plant, which reaches 220 MW. Photo: Illustrative
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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) is working on the regulation of aspects related to the reference price that will serve as a cap for the award, while the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) is developing specific regulations for this type of bidding processes, considering that this will be the first contract of its kind in the country.
Sosa estimated that, once the project is awarded, construction will take approximately 24 months, so the plant could enter operation in 2029. He added that this infrastructure will strengthen the National Interconnected System and advance the diversification of Paraguay's energy matrix in the face of sustained growth in electricity demand.
Sosa explained that the initiative responds to ANDE's Generation Master Plan, with a 20-year horizon, which contemplates incorporating new energy sources to guarantee future supply. Among the alternatives analyzed are solar generation, battery banks, small hydroelectric plants, and, in the longer term, new binational projects.
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