Thirty-three companies have submitted their technical and financial bids for the tender for the provision of 800 MW of power over the next fifteen years.
Participating in the process are four power stations providing energy using biomass and coal, two windmills and several hydroelectric power companies.
"Jorge Alonso, manager of the Empresa Electrica de Guatemala, SA (EEGSA), said they have yet to define how many megawatts will be awarded, but considered that the target will be exceeded, as more than 60 percent of the bids received were from companies using renewable sources", reported Prensalibre.com.
A tender for the provision of 800 MW of electricity for the next 15 years has attracted companies producing energy using wind power, hydro power, biomass, bunker fuel, coal and natural gas.
Among the companies interested in the bidding which will take place in January 2012 are, Cutuco Energy, Italy's Enel, los ingenios Pantaleón, La Unión and Magdalena, among others, said Carlos Colom Bickford, president of the National Energy Commission (CNEE).
Eighteen companies specializing in wind energy want to sell electricity in the country.
Cutuco Energy, Renewable Energy and Eólico San Antonio el Sitio are among the companies seeking to participate in the tender to prepare three electricity distribution centres in the country.
An article in Siglo21.com.gt notes: "The tender is looking to get the best price the flow of 800 megawatts (MW) to cover the supply contracted in the 1990s, known as “Contratos Preexistente” (Pre-Existing Contracts) which begin to expire in May 2013 ".
At least 10 companies have already acquired the bidding rules ready to present bids on 28 October.
Among the companies interested in bidding is Centrans Energy which operates a wind farm in the Pacaya volcano area, which generates 50 MW and represents an investment of $125 million.
An article in Elperiodico.comgt states "The bidding rules require that at least 60 percent of the 800 MW must be generated by renewable power plants (hydroelectric, wind, solar, etc.) and a maximum of 40 percent for existing plants (bunker, diesel and coal) The traditional power plants can bid for contracts of up to 5 years, compared to the renewables whose contracts can be up to 15 years long."