Paraguay is already looking beyond the 140 MW tender launched in Loma Plata . The National Electricity Administration (ANDE) confirmed that the intention is to maintain a permanent program of incorporating new renewable capacity through successive calls for bids.
“We are strongly committed to solar photovoltaic energy and storage. Our goal is to hold annual tenders for approximately 500 MW,” stated Félix Sosa , president of Paraguay’s National Electricity Administration (ANDE), during the public hearing on the recently launched 140 MW auction.
The definition marks a change of scale for the Paraguayan electricity market. The forecast is aligned with ANDE's Master Plan, which envisions an annual expansion of between 400 and 500 MW to meet the sustained increase in energy consumption.
According to official estimates, the country will require up to an additional 800 MW to supply both current demand and the installation of new industrial ventures.
The strategy also includes the incorporation of energy storage as a complement to future photovoltaic developments, so the objective is to diversify a matrix historically based on hydroelectric generation and add new sources capable of accompanying the evolution of the national electricity system.
The roadmap begins with Paraguay's first utility-scale call for tenders, corresponding to the 140 MW photovoltaic plant in Loma Plata , in the Central Chaco, which represents the starting point of a broader renewable expansion program.
“This first 140 MW tender is very important as it will begin the process of diversifying Paraguay’s energy generation mix and will allow us to continue increasing generation capacity with a long-term perspective. This will help us keep pace with the growth in electricity consumption in the country,” Sosa stated.
The call for bids has already been sent by ANDE to the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) under the regulations of Law No. 7599/2025. Furthermore, the public consultation on the process was held on June 1st, while interested parties may submit comments on the tender documents until June 8th.
The project will occupy a plot of approximately 200 hectares , secured through a 30-year lease agreement signed between ANDE and a local Mennonite cooperative. The land is located five kilometers from the regional substation, a location that will facilitate the plant's future connection to the grid.
Next steps and timeline
In addition to providing new capacity to the system, the Loma Plata plant will serve as an initial experience for future calls for tenders that the state-owned company plans to launch in the coming years.
Following the public consultation period, ANDE will proceed with the official call for bids and subsequently with the awarding of the project. The selection criterion will be exclusively economic: bids must be submitted in USD/MWh, and the proposal with the lowest price offered will be declared the winner.
The company expects to complete the main administrative milestones during 2026.
“Our goal is to award the tender this year, and to sign a contract with the winning bid this year as well,” said the president of ANDE, although first the tender documents must answer all the questions raised and obtain their corresponding approval.
According to the planned schedule, construction and electromechanical assembly would take place between 2027 and 2028, while commercial operation is projected to begin in 2029.
The contract will have a maximum duration of 30 years , distributed between one and a half years of construction, 27 years of operation and maintenance, and six months allocated to the dismantling of the facilities once their useful life has ended.