In the tender to supply 18 MW using small generating plants 18 offers were presented totaling 120 MW.
The first tender being held for small generators exceeded industry expectations. Currently the technical bids are being evaluated and it is expected that financial bids will be opened on the 12th of December so that the selected companies can begin providing energy between May 2015 and December 2016.
The conversion to biofuel is feasible in agribusinesses who have their own waste production the raw material needed to generate it.
The return on investment calculation of $9 million in less than four years was a deciding factor in the Cooperativa Agroindustrial de Productores de Palma Aceitera (Coopeagropal) introducing a clean energy program.
"The biggest investment is the installation of a giant digester using German technology, in which the organic matter from the plant wastewater is processed."
Delays in unloading a ship and specifications errors have forced the state electricity company, the ICE, to use diesel instead of bunker fuel to generate electricity.
A boat containing bunker fuel for had to wait 11 days in Puerto Caldera before unloading. "The delay forced the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) to use diesel (much more expensive) to produce electricity during that time", reported Nacion.com.
The two energy-related state enterprises are looking at replacing bunker fuel and diesel power generation plants and power used in public transport and freight, with natural gas.
The state run Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope) and the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), are awaiting the results of a study contracted with a Canadian company that will define the economic and technical feasibility of using natural gas as a substitute for diesel or bunker fuel.
In 2011 Costa Rica increased its use of fossil fuels by 24% in order to meet the demand for energy.
Data from the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) shows that power generation based on diesel and bunker fuel grew by 24% in 2011 compared to 2010, going from 706.529 MW / h to 930.970 MW / h.
The total electricity generation in Costa Rica was 9.8 million MW / h last year and thermal plants contributed 9.48%, according to the institution quoted by Nacion.com. Domestic demand grew by 2%.
In the span of next year, power generation by burning diesel will be prohibited by decree.
The manager of the National Electricity Company (ENEE), Roberto Martinez Lozano added that within an estimated period of two years the ban will be extended to included power generation with bunker fuel.
"Currently, 760 of 1247.8 megawatts of power available during peak hours are generated by thermal combustion power plants, both public and private, fed with bunker fuel oil derived from the more expensive petrol.