India’s engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has emerged as the lowest bidder for Kuwait’s 400-kilovolt (kV) overhead transmission line (OHTL) project, a critical infrastructure component designed to integrate renewable energy from the Al Shagaya Solar Power Generation Station into the national grid.
L&T submitted a bid of KWD 41.45 million (USD 135.2 million) for the project, which involves the supply and installation of 400kV overhead lines connecting the Shagaya solar power station to key substations, including Wafra (Z) and Sulaibiya (Z).
The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy (MEWRE) of Kuwait received proposals from seven bidders for this project, which is part of the country’s broader initiative to diversify its energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The Shagaya Renewable Energy Project, developed by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), represents the first phase of Kuwait’s ambitious plan to generate approximately 3.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Phase I includes a 50 megawatt (MW) Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, a 10 MW wind farm, and a 10 MW photovoltaic (PV) plant.
The 400kV OHTL project is expected to enhance the transmission capacity and reliability of Kuwait’s power grid, facilitating the integration of renewable energy and supporting the country’s goal of achieving 15% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030.
L&T’s bid is currently under evaluation by MEWRE, with the contract award anticipated in the coming months. The project is scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2026.
In January, the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) invited companies and consortia from Kuwait and other countries to bid for the design and construction of Shagaya 3 solar power plant with a generation capacity of 1,100 MW.
