There are now twenty companies, both Salvadoran and from other countries that have purchased bidding rules for the supply of energy.
About 20 companies have acquired the bidding rules for the supply of 100 MW of power to be contracted out with two technologies of generation; they are 60 MW using photovoltaic systems and 40 MW using wind power.
Luis Reyes, executive secretary of the National Energy Council (CNE) said that "there are companies from different countries, including Spanish, Italian, German and Salvadoran. Companies are very interested in this tender . We have received a lot of inquiries from companies."
30 companies have shown interest in participating in the tender for 40 MW of wind generation and 60 MW of solar photovoltaic generation.
Of all interested companies, 18 submitted comments on the bidding rules to the Consejo Nacional de Energía (CNE).
"A fair amount of observations were received from the companies who will participate in the tender, and adjustments have already been made (to the conditions for the tender for 100 MW)' confirmed Luis Reyes, executive secretary of the CNE.
The opening of technical and financial bids for the 350 MW tender launched by the National Energy Commission of El Salvador had been scheduled for September 2013.
According to Luis Reyes, executive secretary of the National Energy Commission (CNE by its initials in Spanish) the corresponding analysis will be carried out in September and October, with the project being awarded in December.
Nine companies have already acquired the bidding rules for the tender of 350 megawatts of renewable energy over the long term.
According to Luis Reyes, executive secretary of the National Energy Council (CNE), the preliminary proposals are focused on the construction of power plants based on coal and natural gas, but there are several proposals for renewable energy imports.
In El Salvador a tender is being launched for long-term contracts to supply power for 15 MW, for a period of 15 years, with generation from renewable sources.
A statement from the National Energy Council (CNE) reads:
Electricity distribution companies, together with the National Energy Council (CNE) and the Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET) announced today the start of the bidding process for long-term contracts for power supply of 15 MW, for a period of 15 years, with generation from renewable sources.
Next week the first tender for renewable energy projects on a small scale will be held in El Salvador.
As explained by the National Energy Council (CNE by its initials in Spanish), this tender will generate an investment of between $30 and $35 million, and has been designed to convene photovoltaic projects, small hydro stations and biogas digesters.
During the third quarter of 2013 a tender will be launched for 50 MW of non-conventional renewable energy.
"We are carrying out studies and hope to have them by mid-year so that in the third quarter we can launch the tender in accordance with national capacities ... we estimate it to be 50 MW," said Luis Reyes, executive secretary of the National Energy Board (CNE by its initials in Spanish).
The new tender for the generation and supply of 350 MW has so far involved three companies, one of which is new to the market.
Elsalvador.com reports that "DelSur’s CEO, Roberto Gonzalez, confirmed yesterday that three companies are interested in participating in the new tender for the project to generate 350 megawatts (MW) of energy and have already bought the documents.
The conflict between thermal energy producers and the country's national energy council (CNE in Spanish) has slowed down the search for renewable energy sources.
The CNE's decision to exclude companies generating electricity from oil derivatives from contract tenders has led to distrust and anger among some sector representatives.
While local producers feel are being discriminated against by the new conditions imposed by the government, CNE representatives claim that this is untrue, repeating that the new energy policy has different characteristics that must be respected.
Government and electricity distribution companies are preparing the terms and conditions for the contract bidding process that they plan to launch in October or November this year.
Luis Reyes, executive secretary for El Salvador's National Energy Commission (CNE), indicated that they are looking for up to 350 megawatts (MW) of energy, approximately 30% of current demand, in order to cover the expected shortage in coming years.