Expression of Interest (EoI) Stage

Please find the GRMF POWER Background Documents here.

GRMF POWER provides grants to developers through competitive, transparent and rigorous two-stage application and evaluation processes:

The first stage is an open pre-qualification process inviting potential Applicants to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoI) by a specified closing date. Based on the evaluation of these EoI, shortlisted developers will be invited to participate in the application stage.
In the second stage, applications from shortlisted developers will be accepted by a specified closing date.

The pre-qualification process comprises the following activities:

Potential Applicants of the Request for EoI will be informed by means of promotion activities (e.g. the pre-application workshop).
Request for EoI will be posted on the Facility webpage.
For inquiries for clarifications regarding the EoI, Applicants shall submit questions via e-mail to the following addresses: grmf@africa-union.org and grmf@roedl.com. The deadline for inquiries is 14 days before the closing date of the Pre-qualification. Inquiries received after the deadline will not be considered. Inquiries will be collected and answers will be published, without eligible entity’s or inquirer’s details, on the GRMF webpage.
The deadline for submission of pre-qualification documents may be extended by issuing an amendment or addendum. Also, the content of the Request for EoI might be changed by amendment.
The Applicant shall submit one electronic version of the completed pre-qualification document as well as one signed original hard copy of required declarations and cover letter as specified in the Request for EoI to the tender box within 8 weeks of the Request for EoI being posted on the Facility webpage (the precise date will be indicated in the Request for EoI). The arrival date and time of the document is relevant for consideration of the EoI. EoI received after the deadline or not in the required manner will not be evaluated but will be returned unopened to the Applicant.
Only complete EoI which are in line with the required submission form will be considered for evaluation.
Expressions of Interests will be evaluated according to a predefined methodology that will be specified in the Request for EoI.
Applicants will be provided with the feedback presumably within 12 weeks after the submission deadline for EoI.
Shortlisted Applicants will be invited to participate in the mandatory pre-bidding workshop and in the application stage.

Kick-Off

The kick-off webinar for the 8^th Application Round of GRMF POWER was held on 22^nd January 2025.

GRMF POWER AR8 Kick-Off Presentations
01 GRMF Overview & GRMF POWER – Application Procedure
02 GRMF POWER – Geotechnical Aspects
03 GRMF POWER – E&S Requirements

EoI Submission

The deadline for all electronic submissions was: 16:00 H Ethiopian Time on 9^th April 2025.

The expressions of interest received are currently being evaluated.

Download the GRMF POWER Expression of Interest (EoI) Documents:
GRMF POWER – 8^th Application Round – Request for Expression of Interest
GRMF POWER – 8^th Application Round – Annex 1 – Cover Letter
GRMF POWER – 8^th Application Round – Annex 2 – Submission Form for Expression of Interest – Surface Studies
GRMF POWER – 8^th Application Round – Annex 3 – Submission Form for Expression of Interest – Drilling Programmes
GRMF POWER – Developer Manual (V15)
GRMF POWER – Conditions for Early Contracting (V10)

Questions and Answers

Deadline for all inquiries was on, or before 12:00 H (noon) on 26^th March 2025, Ethiopian time. Inquiries received after the deadline were not be considered. Answers were be published, without eligible entities or inquirer’s details, below.

No.	Question	Answer
01	Topic: Limit for funded projects per eligible entity. Is the project limitation per eligible entity combining all types of projects (Surface Studies and Drilling Programmes), or is there a 3-project limit for Drilling Programmes and a separate limit for Surface Studies?	Limitation is set to provide GRMF grants to a maximum of three Drilling Programmes per eligible entity funded under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT (cumulative). No limitation applies to Surface Studies for GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT.
02	Topic: Limit for funded projects per eligible entity. Does the 3-project limit apply after contract signature ? – implying that one entity can have more than 3 projects in the GRMF pipeline?	A developer can submit more than three applications for Drilling Programmes. However, only three Grant Contracts can be signed for Drilling Programmes under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT (cumulative). Thus, a developer can have more Drilling Programmes in the GRMF pipeline. No limitation applies to Surface Studies under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT.
03	Topic: Limit for funded projects per eligible entity. What is the duration of the limit: is there a 3-project limit at any one time ? – meaning that once a project is completed, a new one can possibly be awarded by the GRMF. Or each entity only gets up to 3 projects funded by the GRMF ? – meaning that after the 3 projects are completed, no further funding will be made available to that entity ?	Only three Grant Contracts can be signed for Drilling Programmes under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT (cumulative) per eligible entity. No limitation applies to Surface Studies for GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT.
04	Clarification is sought on the eligibility of an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) reservoir stimulation program under the GRMF POWER funding scheme. We plan to conduct hydraulic stimulation to enhance reservoir permeability and optimize well productivity. The ultimate goal of this stimulation is to enable electricity production from the geothermal resource. However, after reviewing the Developer Manual, it is unclear whether this type of intervention can be included in an eligible drilling program or if it falls under a different funding category. Could you please confirm whether an application for EGS stimulation would be eligible for funding and, if so, under which category we should submit it?	The GRMF is focused on the development of traditional geothermal systems i.e geothermal systems that have naturally occurring heat, water, and rock permeability sufficient to allow for energy extraction. At the end of drilling a geothermal well in traditional systems completion testing is normally carried out. Completion test can consist of several test including water loss survey, injectivity test, pressure falloff test, temperature warm up surveys and production/flow testing. All of those are eligible for grant funding. Some wells, mainly in lower enthalpy liquid dominated reservoirs, may not be able to self-flow without help / stimulation. There are different stimulation methods available of which air compression is probably the most common for exploration wells such as those supported by GRMF. Such stimulation is eligible for grant funding if appropriate justification if provided. EGS traditionally refers to systems that are based in reservoirs composed of hot, dry, impermeable rock. The operating principle then base around creating permeability using fracturing and then operating injection well(s) and production well(s) together in a “loop system” to extract heat. Stimulation programs aimed at creating such systems are unfortunately outside the scope of GRMF and not supported.

No.

Question

Answer

Topic: Limit for funded projects per eligible entity.

Is the project limitation per eligible entity combining all types of projects (Surface Studies and Drilling Programmes), or is there a 3-project limit for Drilling Programmes and a separate limit for Surface Studies?

Limitation is set to provide GRMF grants to a maximum of three Drilling Programmes per eligible entity funded under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT (cumulative).

No limitation applies to Surface Studies for GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT.

Topic: Limit for funded projects per eligible entity.

Does the 3-project limit apply after contract signature ? – implying that one entity can have more than 3 projects in the GRMF pipeline?

A developer can submit more than three applications for Drilling Programmes. However, only three Grant Contracts can be signed for Drilling Programmes under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT (cumulative).

Thus, a developer can have more Drilling Programmes in the GRMF pipeline.

No limitation applies to Surface Studies under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT.

Topic: Limit for funded projects per eligible entity.

What is the duration of the limit: is there a 3-project limit at any one time ? – meaning that once a project is completed, a new one can possibly be awarded by the GRMF.

Or each entity only gets up to 3 projects funded by the GRMF ? – meaning that after the 3 projects are completed, no further funding will be made available to that entity ?

Only three Grant Contracts can be signed for Drilling Programmes under GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT (cumulative) per eligible entity.

No limitation applies to Surface Studies for GRMF POWER and GRMF HEAT.

Clarification is sought on the eligibility of an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) reservoir stimulation program under the GRMF POWER funding scheme.

We plan to conduct hydraulic stimulation to enhance reservoir permeability and optimize well productivity. The ultimate goal of this stimulation is to enable electricity production from the geothermal resource. However, after reviewing the Developer Manual, it is unclear whether this type of intervention can be included in an eligible drilling program or if it falls under a different funding category.

Could you please confirm whether an application for EGS stimulation would be eligible for funding and, if so, under which category we should submit it?

The GRMF is focused on the development of traditional geothermal systems i.e geothermal systems that have naturally occurring heat, water, and rock permeability sufficient to allow for energy extraction. At the end of drilling a geothermal well in traditional systems completion testing is normally carried out. Completion test can consist of several test including water loss survey, injectivity test, pressure falloff test, temperature warm up surveys and production/flow testing. All of those are eligible for grant funding.

Some wells, mainly in lower enthalpy liquid dominated reservoirs, may not be able to self-flow without help / stimulation. There are different stimulation methods available of which air compression is probably the most common for exploration wells such as those supported by GRMF. Such stimulation is eligible for grant funding if appropriate justification if provided.

EGS traditionally refers to systems that are based in reservoirs composed of hot, dry, impermeable rock. The operating principle then base around creating permeability using fracturing and then operating injection well(s) and production well(s) together in a “loop system” to extract heat. Stimulation programs aimed at creating such systems are unfortunately outside the scope of GRMF and not supported.