In Costa Rica a 37 MW hydroelectric project whose estimated cost was $94 million, ended up costing the state $361 million due to poor supervision and control of the work.
The public report of the preliminary investigation on Balsa Inferior Hydroelectric Project, prepared by the Compañia Nacional de Fuerza y Luz, found "... serious irregularities and omissions in the supervision and control of the work, which was described as ´'informal' in the company's investigation."
The award was given to the company Macano II Hydroelectric for the construction and operation of a 4.15 MW hydroelectric plant called RP-550, in the province of Chiriqui.
From a statement issued by the National Authority of Public Services:
Resolved to:
"...FIRST: AWARD to the business HIDROELÉCTRICA MACANO II, S.A., registered in the Listing 833362, Document 2597272, of the Microfilm Section of the Public Commercial Registry of Panama, Rights to Concession for the construction and operation of the hydropower plant called RP- 550, which use the waters of the River Piedra, located in the village of Paraiso and Guayabal and district of Boqueron, Chiriqui Province, with an installed capacity of 4.15 MW. "
The grant is for the construction and operation of a hydroelectric station of 4MW known as Analida in the province of Cocle.
From a statement issued by the National Authority of Public Services Panama:
Resolution:
"...FIRST: AWARD to the company HIDROELÉCTRICA RÍO CHICO, S.A., registered on Listing 833361, Document 2597265, in the Mercantile Microfilm Section of the Public Registry of Panama, rights to a concession for the construction and operation of the hydropower plant called Analida, using the waters of the river Chico, located in the village Las Huacas, Capellania and La Toza, District of Nata, Cocle Province, with an installed capacity of 4 MW. "
In the first five months of the year the country bought nineteen times more energy than the in the whole of 2012 and in 2015 it is projected that 200 MW will be purchased abroad.
While it is expected that in the coming years several renewable energy generation projects will start up, Panama is already planning to alleviate possible shortages in the short term by importing energy from neighboring countries.
The government of Guatemala has promised to support power projects promoted by cooperatives in rural areas.
Over 10 projects for small hydroelectric facilities are being encouraged by the Confederation of Guatemalan Cooperatives Federation, with the support of the U.S. Federation of Cooperatives for Electricity Generation.
There are now three such projects which are operating in Huehuetenango.
The financial potential of cooperatives in Guatemala will revolve around the development of renewable energy projects.
The groups belonging to the Guatemalan Confederation of Cooperative Associations, RL (Confecoop), have projects, funding and implementation programs for the construction of small hydroelectric plants, whose owners are cooperatives.
"We have made the final adjustments to the investment plan and contributions to the main supply, and we hope to present the project in June," said Rodolfo Orozco, executive director of Confecoop to Prensalibre.com. However, Orozco did not say how many mini plants will be built.
The new mayor will maintain the ban on power plants using coal or bunker fuel, but accepted those running on clean energy.
The new mayor of the municipality of La Union, Ezequiel Milla, has amended a decree prohibiting the installation of power plants that used coal, liquefied natural gas or any derivation of hydrocarbons as fuel, which was not conducive to investment in the city.
The concept is part of the "Master Plan for the development of renewable energies" which sets out a strategy in power generation for the next 15years.
A study by the National Energy Council (CNE) in conjunction with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) outlines a strategy for the next 15 years in the development of technologies using renewable resources.
The country will receive over the next seven years a $ 700 million investment in the electricity sector.
With support from international organizations it will develop hydro and wind projects as well as expansion and modernization of the country's transmission system, among others.
"Ernesto Martínez Tiffen, chief executive of the Nicaraguan Electricity Company (Enel), said yesterday the company will be in charge of developing hydropower projects Larreynaga and La Sirena, both 17 megawatts located in the Tuma River basin. In addition to the rehabilitation of the Santa Barbara and Centroamerica plants and the feasibility studies of El Barro hydroelectric plant, there will be an investment of over $ 120 million," writes Laprensa.com.ni.