Bids are invited by 21 August from qualified contractors for the mobilization of a panel of five independent experts responsible for the independent review of design studies (Preliminary Design, Detailed Design, Tender documents/technical specifications) and Environmental and Social (E&S) studies (E&S scoping, ESIA, ESMP) for the project, in accordance with Annex 1 of World Bank World Bank Environmental and Social Standard 4 (ESS4 – Community Health and Safety) (Large Dams).
As the Tabarka pumped-storage project, regardless of the final configuration, entails the construction of a dam and/or dike for its lower reservoir with a height (measured from the lowest foundation level to the crest) exceeding 15 m, classified as a “large dam” according to Annex 1 of the World Bank ESS4, it requires: “Reviews by an independent panel of experts of the studies associated with the dam, as well as the design, construction, and commissioning of the dam”. Against this backdrop, AFD and STEG agreed to the establishment and involvement of a POE.
The panel of experts will consist of five members: an expert in dams and geology/geotechnics (also the Lead Expert or Point of Contact), an expert in hydrology and hydraulics, an expert in hydromechanical equipment, an expert in electromechanical equipment, as well as one expert specializing in E&S matters, who must maintain independence from the other panel members.
A single firm or a consortium of economic operators (joint venture or subcontracting arrangement) is required, covering the full range of the five areas of expertise. The candidate (or consortium) must propose all five experts, including a lead expert responsible for overall coordination. In the case of a consortium of contractors, one contractor must be designated as the consortium leader.
The members of the Panel of Experts will conduct a detailed analysis of the design and environmental studies and will provide comments to the project beneficiary and the group of funding agencies. Technical studies and the Detailed Preliminary Design are being carried out by Tractebel and are scheduled to be completed in August 2026. An Initial Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was partially completed by Acciona in 2024 before the termination of the contract and is being resumed under a new contract signed in November 2025 for completion in Q2 2027. Geological and geotechnical investigations were carried out by GEOCONSEIL (2023–2024), a topographic survey was completed in 2019 by TOPO+ while a Strategic Storage Study was undertaken by ENGIE Impact (2022–2024).
The POE will receive the following documents as they are published: ESIA Terms of Reference, E&S Scoping, ESIA and associated E&S management plans, Climate Change Risk Study and Management Plan and tender documents, specifically the technical specifications for the works. The Panel of Experts may, if necessary, request that the designers conduct additional studies to assess aspects related to dam safety.
The Panel of Experts is required to conduct an independent safety review of the structures planned for the Tabarka Pumped-Storage Power Plant project, including the design of the dams, spillway, outlet works as well as their operating procedures, ancillary structures such as the water intake, power plant, and penstocks as well as siting of the dam(s) and access roads. The POE must provide objective recommendations on actions required to ensure the safety of hydraulic structures in accordance with acceptable international standards, an explicit opinion on the design criteria used by the Consultants, proposals for corrective measures in the event of identified non-conformities and a review and validation of dam safety plans. The PoE must be guided by the regulations of the project country, international guidelines, and state-of-the-art practices/best practices regarding dam safety.
The work of the Panel of Experts is to be co-financed by the AFD, which will act as the leader of the project’s financial partners, as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is also financing part of the preliminary studies including the EIA, and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), which is co-financing the project, as well as the preparatory studies including a grid integration impact study.
The lump-sum contract is divided into two phases with an expected timeframe of 18 months from contract award, scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. Phase 1 (Preliminary design + E&S scoping) will entail document review and remote meetings, which are expected to take four months. Phase 2 (Detailed design + ESIA) involving in-depth review and one site visit has an indicative duration of 14 months. The technical scope of each phase is detailed in the Terms of Reference, which along with the relevant bid documents can be viewed via a link to the French state procurement platform, PLACE on the website of the AFD https://afd.dgmarket.com/tender/111972741.
Electronic submission of bid documents in French may only be carried out via the online procurement platform: https://www.marches-publics.gouv.fr/. Candidates may also submit a backup copy on physical electronic media (USB drive) or in paper format within the time limits set for the submission of bids. This copy must be sent to the address below in a sealed envelope and must clearly bear the label “Copie de sauvegarde” (backup copy), along with identification of the relevant procedure and the company’s contact details to Département des Achats Groupe (DAG), AFD, 5 Rue Roland Barthes, 75012 Paris. To obtain any further information regarding this tender EGI-2026-0282, candidates must submit their requests exclusively via the online procurement platform at: https://www.marches-publics.gouv.fr/.
