The region aims to standardize its energy laws and regulations, to make it easier to develop renewable energies.
Edgar Chamorro, executive director of SICA (Central American Integration Secretary), explained the initiative at the “XV Regional Forum of Central America’s Energy and Environment Alliance”.
He explained “that a Standardization Commission at Sica is working to harmonize regulations related to importing air conditioning devices, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, home appliances and low energy transportation units”.
The infrastructure required for a regional electric interconnection system would be ready in 2010, reported CABEI.
Called SIEPAC, this project comprises building a 230 kW electric line spanning 1.790 kilometers. So far, $451 million have been invested in it.
“It is being funded by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, the Inter American Development bank and other entities”, reported Informador.com.mx.
Costa Rica’s difficulties in expropriating terrains will delay the construction of 70km of electric lines.
The countries members of Siepac, the Central American Electric Interconnection System, expect to conclude their respective stretches of the line in September 2010, while Costa Rica would deliver it on October 2011.
Nacion.com reports that the rest of the countries are unhappy with this, and want the network to be operating as soon as possible, to improve energy supply and commercialization.
Service problems in Costa Rica and Honduras are holding back implementation of the proposed Central American electrical interconnection.
Issac Castillo, manager of Transmisión Eléctrica S.A., announced in Prensa.com: "The electricity interconnection line in Central America will begin operations in sections beginning in 2010. The contractors who are carrying out the interconnection work should deliver the completed project by April 2009, but there is currently a service problem in Costa Rica and Honduras, and that has delayed its implementation."
SIEPAC will be launched Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama at a cost of $395.
According to reports from laprensagrafica.com, "the electrical interconnection in Central America will start in 2010 and will cover some 1,800 kilometers of transmission lines (230 kilowatts), sources close to the project told the "El Panama America" daily.