Employers are demanding a one-stop shop service for issuing building permits, in order to avoid the ordeal of visiting 18 state institutions, and also the streamlining of tax collection.
Guatemala ranks 106 in the world in terms of ease of obtaining building permits, according to the World Bank. Data from the Guatemalan Chamber of Construction (CGC) reveals that the current backlog of projects awaiting approval amounts to about 2.6 million square meters of construction work, processes which represents for the State lost revenue of up to Q2.145.000 ($277 million) through IVA , ISR, USI, payments to municipalities and for licenses.
The decline in global prices is the main reason behind the abandonment of several areas on the part of concessionaires, added to which is confusion around the mining moratorium.
Guatemala went from extracting 9 million barrels of oil in 2003 (a daily average of 24 thousand barrels) to just 3 million in 2015 (10 thousand barrels per day), recording a drop in production of 59.4% in twelve years.
Quattro Exploration and Production has made an agreement with GFI Petroleum Guatemala to acquire a license for the operation of block 6-2012 block, consisting of 34,723 hectares in the South Peten basin.
From the press release by QUATTRO Exploration and Production:
CALGARY, ALBERTA - QUATTRO Exploration and Production Ltd. ("QUATTRO" or the "Company") (TSX: QXP) is pleased to announce the purchase of a 100% interest in the El Cedro License, Block 6-2012 in Guatemala, consisting of approximately 34,723 hectares in the South Peten Basin, from GFI Petroleum (Guatemala) Limited, a Guatemalan subsidiary of an oil and gas exploration and production company residing in the British Virgin Islands (the “Acquisition”).
In Panama a provisional license has been awarded to Wind Energy SA for the construction and operation of a wind farm with an installed capacity of 81 MW, in the district of Santa Fe, Veraguas.
From the order issued by the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP):
"... Resolves:
FIRST: AWARD to the company EÓLICA ENERGY, S.A, registered on Folio 155605066, a provisional license for the construction and operation of a wind farm called LA VIKINGA, to be located in the district of Santa Fe, Santa Fe district, province of Veraguas, with an installed capacity of 81 MW, consisting of 27 turbines of 3.0 MW each. The mining area is located within the polygon whose coordinates UTM-WGS-84, are described below, and which corresponds to the license certificate for Registry No. 322-15. "
The Directorate General of Public Procurement in Panama is putting out to tender a supply of computer goods and accessories, software and licenses for government entities for the period 2016-2018.
Panama Government Purchase 2015-1-27-0-99-LM-001271:
"Tender framework agreement for the supply of materials for computer equipment, networking and communications for state institutions for 2016-2018."
A ruling by the Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal filed by residents of Santa Rosa calling for the cancellation of the license to operate the mine.
An article on Republica.com.gt reports that "... The resolution also calls on the authorities to follow up on the respective monitoring of all companies engaged in mining in order to maintain quality control of water.
The Guatemalan Social Security Department is putting out to tender technical support and a supply of licenses for equipment on the institution's virtual platform.
Guatemala Government Purchase 3949052
"Renewal, update rights, support and subscription for the licenses described below:
25 Virtualization Licenses for 1 processor for Enterprise Physical Server, identified: by 134184282, 134209857 -134209880.
A provisional license has been granted to Aggreko International Projects Limited to build and operate a thermal power generation plant based on diesel, bunker C and natural gas.
From the order issued by the Authority of Public Services:
"... RESOLVED:
FIRST: AWARD to AGGREKO INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS LIMITED, registered in the Public Registry on Document 1493288, Folio 1513, a provisional license for the construction and operation of a thermal power generation plant based on Diesel, Bunker C and Natural Gas called AGGREKO CERRO AZUL 3 to be located in the village of Pacora, Panama District, Panama Province, with an installed capacity of 110 MW. "
The maritime union is opposed to the decision of the Maritime Port Authority to suspend the licensing for service provisioning and transport of fuel.
The only companies exempt from the measure are those with an existing direct contract with any oil company, according to the letter sent by Gerardo Varela, General Director of Ports and Auxiliary Maritime Industries at the AMP, to the Maritime Chamber of Panama, shipping companies and users of the entity.
Three companies have been granted provisional licenses to build and operate three power plants of 15 MW, 55 MW and 322 MW.
On August 28 Generación Eléctrica Chilca Panamá, S.A. obtained a license to build and operate a thermal power generation plant with an installed capacity of 322 MW, called PSB-1. The plant will be located in the village of Cativá, district and province of Colon.
The private sector is opposed to the new fees and charges payable by telecommunications companies, arguing that it will cause operating costs to rise.
Representatives from the Higher Council of Private Enterprise are opposed to Administrative Agreement No. 003-2015, which will be in effect from September 22 and sets fees and charges, for the use of radio spectrum, licensing, data transmission and other services, payable to the Institute Nicaraguan Telecommunications and Postal Services.
With the 11 licenses granted by the State concessionaires who currently broadcast in analog and interested parties begins the testing phase prior to the planned transition in 2017.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Costa Rica:
San Jose, Tuesday September 29, 2015. The Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, granted 11 experimental permits, supported by the respective legal framework for official broadcasts of terrestrial digital open and free television, as an initial step towards expanding coverage throughout the country.
The Public Services Authority has rejected the request by the state run power company and will not suspend the licensing of projects for wind or solar generation.
Even though the total licenses to build solar and wind power plants being processed by the Public Services Authority is equivalent to more than twice the current demand for energy in the country , the issue of permits for such projects will not be suspended, provided there is compliance with the requirements in the legislation.