Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency (AZU) has announced five new geothermal exploration blocks open for tender. This is in addition to the six blocks in Međimurska, Koprivničko-Križevačka, Virovitičko-Podravska and Osječko-Baranjska County that had already been announced in December 2022.
The overall electricity production potential of these locations is estimated at 600,000 MWh per year, with the value of needed investments estimated at over 400 million euros.
The winning bidder will be issued with a separate “geothermal waters exploration license” for one or more geothermal exploration areas for energy purposes.
Interested bidders will have to fulfill the following requirements in order to enter the selection process:
- prove technical ability and professional qualification,
- provide plan and program of exploration activities
- provide a financing plan for the execution of the planned oil and mining exploration
- provide bank guarantee for the seriousness of the offer
- make an offer of compensation for the acquired quantities of geothermal water for energy purposes.
Selection criteria is technically and economically most favorable offer determined by:
- technical, financial and professional ability of the bidder
- ways in which the bidder intends to carry out the activities that are the subject of the permit
- overall quality of the submitted offer
- financial terms offered by the bidder
- any lack of efficiency or responsibility in any form shown in other countries, and in the previous activities that are the subject of the permit.
Information on the tender documentation and bidding round documentation for each research area can be found here.
Deadlines for submitting bids:
- exploration areas Tekić, Vukovar 2, Sveta Nedjelja 1, Sveta Nedjelja 2, Sveta Nedjelja-Genera – 17.4.2023
- exploration area Novigrad Podravski – 10.5.2023
- exploration area Kutina – 24.5.2023
- exploration areas Međimurje 5, Ferdindandovac-1, Kotoriba, Leščan, Pčelić, Sječe – 1.6.2023