Consultancy Services for the Feasibility Study of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Eswatini — Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Eswatini

ESWATINI ELECTRICITY COMPANY Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) Consultancy Services for a battery ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (bESS) GRID INTERGRATION AND PLANNING STUDY FOR THE ACCELERATING SUSTAINABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS TRANSFORMATION IN ESWATINI (ASCENT) PROJECT Project ID No: P508960 Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) (Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini) Consultancy Services for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Grid Integration and Planning Study First date of publication: 06 August 2026 Country: Kingdom of Eswatini Name of Project: Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Eswatini (ASCENT Eswatini) Project Sector: Energy Sector Project ID No .: P508960 Reference: SZ-ECC-561947-CS-CQS Assignment Title: Consulting Services for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Grid Integration and Planning Study The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini (GoKE) has received financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Agency (IDA) and grant funding from the Global Public Good (GPG) Facility, which are all under the World Bank. The received financing is for the purposes of implementing the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Eswatini (ASCENT Eswatini) Project (P508960) (the Project), with the involvement of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, as set out in the Loan Agreement, Financing Agreement, Grant Agreement and Project Agreements. The EEC now invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested and eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to provide consulting services for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Grid Integration and Planning Study. The Consultant shall undertake, but not necessarily be limited to the following tasks: Review of the Existing Energy Power System : Conduct a high-level review of the entire EEC transmission network, BESS Technology Assessment : Evaluate suitable utility-scale BESS technologies, Assessment of BESS Grid Applications : Analyze the technical role of BESS in the entire EEC transmission network, Solar PV and BESS Hybrid Assessment : Assess the benefits of co-locating BESS with committed solar PV projects, Power System Modelling and Impact Studies : Conduct detailed power system modelling, stability studies and network impact analysis to evaluate the combined impact of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices on the EEC grid. Optimal BESS and FACTS Devices Location and Sizing : Determine optimal siting, sizing and operational configuration of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Inverter Technology Assessment : Evaluate grid-following and grid-forming applications for BESS, Grid Resilience and Restoration : Assess the potential role of BESS and FACTS devices in enhancing system resilience, Economic Assessment : Conduct cost-benefit analysis of Bess deployment options, sensitivity analysis on key parameters, estimate total projects costs, assess financial viability of BESS under ownership and commercial models (public utility ownership, IPP/PPP structures and hybrid models), Environmental and Social Safeguards : Conduct a preliminary environmental and social screening of candidate BESS sites, Deployment Strategy and Roadmap : Develop a comprehensive and integrated deployment strategy and implementation roadmap for BESS and FACTS technologies. Interested consultants must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform all the services. The following documents shall also be submitted along with the EOI applications by all the consulting firms including each member of JV firms: Copies of certificates of incorporation/registration of the consulting firms Annual financial records of the firm for the last 5 years Corporate profile of the firm with quality assurance plan, e.g. ISO 9001, information on organizational strength (Organization structure, number of permanent professional staffs and their expertise, qualifications and number of total staff), evidence of availability of licensed power system analysis software, including but not limited to: PSS®E, DIgSILENT Power Factory, ETAP, PSCAD or equivalent software required for execution of the assignment. The qualifications and shortlisting criteria are: At least ten (10) years’ experience in grid planning, stability, storage, or renewable integration studies. At least five (5) relevant assignments in Africa. Demonstrated experience of at least one (1) relevant assignment in BESS integration, including siting, sizing, and grid impact analysis in Africa. Proven experience of at least one (1) relevant assignment in FACTS devices analysis (e.g., STATCOM, SVC) for voltage control and stability in Africa. Prove Experience with utility transmission networks. The purpose of this EOI is to establish a shortlist of not more than eight (8) Prequalified Respondents for the subsequent Request for Proposal and to invite technical and financial proposals from these Respondents. All responses shall be assessed for completeness. The following shall be assessed on a Yes/No basis to determine a PASS or FAIL result; ten (10) years’ experience in grid planning, stability, storage, or renewable integration studies, five (5) relevant assignments in grid planning, stability, storage, or renewable integration studies in Africa, demonstrated experience of at least one (1) relevant assignment in BESS integration, including siting, sizing, and grid impact analysis in Africa and proven experience of at least one (1) relevant assignment in FACTS devices analysis (e.g., STATCOM, SVC) for voltage control and stability in Africa and experience with utility transmission networks. Respondents who have attained a PASS result shall be shortlisted and ranked based on the following weighted aspect: General corporate experience; [15] Specific experience in BESS planning and integration studies; [25] Power system planning and stability studies experience; [20] FACTS technology assessment and deployment experience; [15] Experience working with electricity utilities; [15] Regional (African) experience. [10] In order to substantiate the aforementioned consulting jobs/contracts, the Consultant shall submit the Completion Certificates or End User Certificate from clients depicting description of services provided. All Completion Certificate or End User Certificates should be in English; Completion Certificates/ End User Certificates in other languages should be translated and notarized. Incomplete Consulting Contracts will not be taken into account and hence will not be evaluated. Consultants may associate with other consultants to enhance their qualifications. For a JV/consortium, the qualifications and experience of the members may be combined to meet the qualification requirements. The Lead Partner shall demonstrate substantial relevant experience and shall be responsible for contract performance. Consortium members may combine qualifications and experience to meet the overall qualification requirements. All submittal from the consulting firms shall be in English language. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.15 to 3.16 of the Seventh edition of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated September 2025, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. The Consultant(s) shall be evaluated and shortlisted based on the qualifications, experience and capability. Qualifications and Experience of key personnel will not be evaluated at this stage. Shortlisted Consultants will subsequently be invited to submit Technical and Financial Proposals and Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based (QCBS) selection method as per the Seventh edition of Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated September 2025. Interested eligible consultants may obtain further information by sending an email to the address below or visiting during office hours from 10.00 to 16.00 hrs . The Terms of Reference for the proposed consulting services can be accessed at the link below: https://www.eec.co.sz/electricity/projects/ascent/docs/Battery_Energy_Storage_System_BESS_Grid_Intergration_and_Planning_Study_TORs.pdf Expression of interest must be delivered in a written form (in person or by e-mail) to the address below no later than 11h00 SAST on 28 August 2026. The Procurement Manager ASCENT Eswatini Project Eswatini Electricity Company Eluvatsini House, Mhlambanyatsi Road, Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini Tel: +268 2409 4165 Email: bongani.chauke@eec.co.sz copied thobeka.gama@eec.co.sz The procedures for making a Procurement-related Complaint are detailed in the “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Annex III).” If an Applicant wishes to make a Procurement-related Complaint, the Applicant shall submit its complaint following these procedures, in writing (by the quickest means available, that is either by email or fax), to: For the attention : Mr Mphumuzi Maziya Title/position : Managing Director Employer : Eswatini Electricity Company Email address : mphumuzi.maziya@eec.co.sz In summary, at this stage, a Procurement-related Complaint may challenge any of the following: the terms of the Prequalification Documents; and the Employer’s decision not to prequalify an Applicant.