In the first three months of 2019, 14 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to perform work on electricity grids and develop power generation plants.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
In Costa Rica, the state-owned electricity company ICE is evaluating the renegotiation of prices and conditions in power purchase contracts with private generation companies.
The adjustments planned by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) in contracts with private generators are based on the need to reduce costs and adapt prices and quantities purchased to current demand conditions and the availability of resources to generate energy.
Because of the behavior of the energy supply from renewable sources, between 2017 and 2018 electricity generation increased by 2%.
The latest report of the General Comptroller of Panama, details that in 2018 were generated 10,783 million kwh, which is equivalent to a 1.8% increase over the 10,597 million offered in 2017.
Lack of legal certainty, electricity theft and social conflicts are forcing businessmen in Guatemala's energy sector to choose to relocate their investments to El Salvador.
Last year, the companies Applied Energy Services (AES) and Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), both US and Guatemalan capital, decided to invest $47 million in solar energy projects, encouraged by the facilities offered to the energy sector in El Salvador.
Guatemala exported $10 million worth of electricity to the neighboring country in the first seven months, significantly more than the one million dollars reported in 2017.
Sergio Recinos, Banco de Guatemala president, said to Dca.gob.gt that "... With regard to this activity, greater dynamism is expected in electricity generation associated with the expected increase in external demand from Mexico and the restructuring of the energy matrix'.”
In Panama, five companies were prequalified in the tender process to design, build and manage the fourth electric transmission line.
From a statement issued by Etesa:
Panama, September 3, 2018. Five proponents prequalified in the first phase of the process to select a contractor who will design, build and manage the Fourth Electric Transmission Line project, by complying with the necessary technical, legal and financial requirements, in the process carried out by Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica, S.A. (ETESA) with the objective that whoever builds the project has the capabilities that the largest Central American project in its category deserves.
The Congress of Costa Rica has finally approved a $500 million loan for the state electricity company to carry out electric generation and transmission works, including three geothermal plants.
Of the total amount of the loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved by the Legislative Assembly, close to $200 million will be used to finance the Pailas II, 50 MW, and Borinquen I, 55 MW geothermal projects, both in Liberia, Guanacaste.
After requesting an extension to postpone the date of entry into operations, authorities at AES Panama confirmed that the plant will begin operations on September 1.
Construction of the plant started in May 2016 and will have three generators, three gas turbines and one steam turbine, reaching a total installed capacity of 381 MW.
Corporación AES El Salvador has announced that this year it will replace 50 thousand electromechanical meters with digital meters, and will increase the voltage of the energy supplied in the center of the capital.
Regarding the plan to raise the voltage from 4.16 Kv to 23 Kv in downtown San Salvador, representatives from the energy company explained that the increase will be made in order to respond to growth that has been registered in demand.
The National Electricity Transmission Company in Panama forecasts that during 2018, 1.796 MW will be consumed in the country, 6% more than in 2017.
The "Plan for the Expansion of the National Interconnected System", prepared by the National Electricity Transmission Company (Etesa), predicts that " ... electric power consumption in the National Interconnected System could see growth rates in the order of 5, 5% to 6.1% as an annual average, for the fifteen years of the projection (2017-2031)."
Commissions have been formed for Etesa to initiate technical, environmental and social studies, which will be used to decide the route the line could take within the Ngäbe-Buglé Region.
The commissions will have to specify where to build the structures for the electric transmission line with capacity for 280 megawatts, which will have an extension of 328 kilometers, of which 107 will be inside the region.
In 2017, electric energy exports totaled $103 million, 104% more than was sold in 2017, reversing the falls registered in the two previous years.
According to figures from the Banco de Guatemala, over the past year the country sold abroad a monthly average $8.5 million worth of electricity, with the Central American region being the main destination market.
Construction projects for water treatment plants, and extensions to the Metro and the airport, are works that will considerably increase demand for electricity in the coming years.
According to the National Interconnected System Plan 2017-2031, construction of several water purification plants in different areas around the country will increase demand for electricity, as they are "...
In 2016, the average cost of 1 kWh in Central America was 13.48 cents, while in Costa Rica, it was 18.47 cents.
A report from the CEPAL indicates that in 2016, the average cost of one kilowatt hour (kWh) in Central America was 13.48 cents, while in Costa Rica it was 18.47 cents; 37% more for industrial consumption of 100,000 kWh.In El Salvador and Guatemala, it was 11.03 and 11.54 cents respectively. In Panama, 10.92 cents.
Although distributors aimed to award up to 428 MW, only the Empresa de Generación Eléctrica de Haina presented a price in its offer which was lower than the maximum value established, $0.86 / Kwh.
From a statement issued by Corporación Dominicana de Empresas Eléctricas Estatales:
SANTO DOMINGOThe Bidding Committee for Purchase of Energy awarded 40 megawatts out of a total of 428.6 it had to offer, because only one generation company offered a price below 8.6 cents, the maximum value which the distributors Edenorte, Edesur and EdeEste (EDE) are willing to buy at.