NOTICE OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE SELECTION OF A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FIRM FOR THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF THE ELECTRICITY NETWORK MODERNIZATION, EXTENSION AND DENSIFICATION PROJECT IN THE MONO, COUFFO AND BORGOU DEPARTMENTS (PEDER+)

REPUBLIC OF BENIN MINISTRY OF ENERGY, WATER AND MINES BENINESE ELECTRICITY COMPANY (SBEE) NOTICE OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Issued on: For the CEI N°379/2026/DG/PRMP/SP-PRMP/DCP/SPM/G-PEDER+/SP of 20/10/2026 Project: ELECTRICITY NETWORK MODERNIZATION, EXTENSION AND DENSIFICATION PROJECT IN THE MONO, COUFFO AND BORGOU DEPARTMENTS (PEDER+) Client: Beninese Electricity Company (SBEE) Financing: - French Development Agency (AFD) - European Investment Bank (EIB) - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - European Union (EU) Budgetary Imputation - Loan No.: CBJ 1318 01 Budgetary: - Grant No.: CBJ 1318 02 MAY 2026 Solicitation of Expressions of Interest REPUBLIC OF BENIN MINISTRY OF ENERGY, WATER AND MINES BENINESE ELECTRICITY COMPANY (SBEE) SELECTION OF A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FIRM FOR THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF THE ELECTRICITY NETWORK MODERNIZATION, EXTENSION AND DENSIFICATION PROJECT IN THE MONO, COUFFO AND BORGOU DEPARTMENTS (PEDER+) Notice No. 379/2026/DG/PRMP/SP-PRMP/DCP/SPM/G-PEDER+/SP of 20/10/2026 1. The Republic of Benin has sought and obtained a Loan from the French Development Agency (the "AFD"), the European Investment Bank (the "EIB"), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "EBRD") as well as a Grant from the European Union (the "EU") to finance the SBEE Electricity Network Modernization, Extension and Densification Project in the Mono, Couffo and Borgou Departments (PEDER +). It is expected that a portion of the funds provided under this financing will be used to make payments for the year 2026 for "Consulting Services for Project Management" in the targeted areas. The project objectives are: i. to increase access to electricity at a lower cost for urban, peri-urban and rural populations, ii. to improve the availability, reliability and quality of electricity, iii. to control the level of overall losses in the SBEE network. The project covers 750 localities grouped into 15 municipalities located in three (03) Departments of Benin, namely: - Mono Department (324 localities): Municipalities of Athiémé, Bopa, Grand Popo, Comè, Houéyogbé, Lokossa; - Couffo Department (281 localities): Municipalities of Aplahoué, Djakotomey, Dogbo, Klouékanmè, Lalo, Toviklin; - Borgou Department (145 localities): Municipalities of Parakou, Tchaourou, N’dali. A Preliminary Project Study (APS) and a Detailed Project Study (APD) were carried out with funding from the European Union in 2024-2025. They include the technical feasibility studies, ESIA and PARC of the Project. The APS covers all localities in the Project. The rehabilitation/densification component was studied based on information from the managers of SBEE's regional technical centers, who have good knowledge of the network, covering 550 localities. The extension component was studied based on satellite imagery and the GISELEC software and covered all concerned localities, representing an additional 202 localities. As part of the APD, 178 localities were visited in detail to compare the results of the detailed technical studies with those of the APS: 119 localities were part of the densification/rehabilitation component and 59 localities were part of the extension component. The APD concluded with the confirmation of the estimates for the overall project cost, with a reallocation in favor of Borgou, versus Mono and Couffo. The objective of this Call for Expressions of Interest is to pre-select 6 technical assistance firms with the skills to participate in the restricted tender that will soon be launched for the recruitment of the Project Manager. The mission of the Project Manager will include two main components: - Based on the studies carried out as part of the APS-APD, (i) propose a methodology to complete these studies and then (ii) carry out the complementary technical studies, ESIA and PARC, seeking to optimize deadlines before the start of the works; - Assist in the procurement of Works contracts, then carry out the technical and E&S supervision of the Works and structures of the MV and LV distribution networks over the entire project perimeter. The project packaging agreed at this stage consists of 3 lots, one lot per department (Mono, Couffo, and Borgou), with a total target of 120,000 connections (including 45,000 ready board kits). 2. The Beninese Electricity Company (SBEE), the Client (MOA) for the implementation of the project, has benefited from financial contributions from the French Development Agency, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as a Grant from the European Union, and intends to use part of the funds to cover authorized payments for