The Renewable Energy Market Transformation Implementation Support Unit (REMT-ISU), which is a joint initiative of the World Bank and the Department of Energy, is looking for consultants in the energy sector to undertake a revision of the White Paper on the Renewable Energy Policy of 2003.

The unit, which is situated at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a consultant to review how far South Africa had come in reaching its target of generating 10 000 GWh of renewable energy, as part of its final energy mix, by 2013.

This was in line with an outcome of the Renewable Energy Summit, held in March, as well as a commitment made in the 2003 White Paper to review the policy after five years.

The unit noted in a terms of reference document that, in addition, there were a number of compelling reasons why the existing White Paper required a thorough review.

This included the fact that energy security had become a challenge, electricity prices had increased, global fuel prices were volatile, and climate change has become more compelling.

All these opened up new opportunities for renewable energy, it stated.

The selected consultant would be required to, among other tasks, examine the overall progress achieved and the barriers encountered in the existing White Paper and to analyse the risk profiles of different energy scenarios for the country in the short, medium and long term.

Further, the consultant would have to review elements of renewable energy policy, as well as assess the progress made by support mechanisms, such as regulatory and legislative instruments.

The consultant would also be required to review the current renewable energy target and devise appropriate sustainable renewable energy targets, going forward, as well as looking at the preinvestment and long-term financing mechanisms that were needed to promote renewable energy developments.

Interested parties had until September 14 to submit their bids to the REMT-ISU.

A successful candidate was expected to be selected within a week after the deadline, after which the revision was expected to be completed within a five-month period.