Consulting Services, Geothermal Energy Development

Requested Services:

The “Regional Geothermal Coordinating Unit” (RGCU) under the African Union Commission (AUC) is acting as Project-Executing Unit for the implementation of the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF). The goal of the consultancy is to strengthen the RGCU in its role as mediator between regulators and developers, and to support policy advice on geothermal energy and the relevant regulatory framework within countries of the GRMF portfolio. The main expected result is accelerated implementation of the GRMF portfolio.

 

Specifically, the consultant shall execute the assignment in two (2) parts:

Part 1 i) Evaluate the results of several rounds of calls for proposals across the region and analyse individual reasons for drilling projects to not have yet commenced;ii) Evaluate the current legal, regulatory, financial, economic and institutional conditions for large-scale development of geothermal resources in the countries of the GRMF portfolio;iii) Assess the investment conditions and identify remaining barriers for investments in the respective national contexts;iv) Assess the donor structures for geothermal energy with the target to create and strengthen cooperation between the development partners in the sector. 

Part 2 Based on this evaluation, the consultant shall work in the field and provide concrete support to the RGCU in its role as a mediator by:i) Finding solutions for the improvement of the institutional and regulatory framework;ii) Developing advisory strategies for the policy dialogue with the official bodies (lobbying for geothermal energy);iii) Providing capacity building on project financing, tariff calculation and project management; andiv) Facilitating negotiations between regulators and developers of individual projects of the GRMF. The consultant shall review, assess, and evaluate the tasks described below, as required. The consultant shall critically analyse the facts and propose alternatives, if deemed appropriate