Beyond the apparent financial difficulties of an indispensable regional development project, there appears to be an immovable mental stance on removing the Darien Gap.
The electrical interconnection between South and Central America and Mexico, through Colombia and Panama, is the basis for a viable system for an electricity supply which is safe from weather contingencies or other constraints on generation.
The absence of regulations defining rates and market operations prevents the region from taking advantage of the energy that Mexico will be able to export under the new energy law.
As Mexico prepares to increase its power generation and export surpluses, the lack of a legal framework establishing the conditions for selling energy through the Electrical Interconnection System for Central America (SIEPAC) is delaying the possibility of accessing less expensive energy.
In 2013 63% of the electrical energy fed into the transmission networks in the region was generated from renewable sources.
From a report entitled "Central America: production statistics for the electricity subsector, 2013", prepared by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC):
"... The production of electricity in the six countries amounted to 45,735 GWh, 3.3% higher than in 2012.
On June 1 the Regional Electricity Market Rules and the Supplementary Detailed Procedure Electrical Interconnection System for Central America became effective.
"It's a big step forward for electrical integration. These are rules designed to operate the SIEPAC line and power transmission capacity between countries with greater intensity," said the executive director of the Regional Operating Agency (EOR), Rene Gonzalez.
In 2009, 61% of all energy produced in the region came from renewable sources.
ECLAC published its report on electricity consumption and production in Central America, including final statistics for 2009.
-In total, the region produced 39,535.1 GWh, of which 30,384 GWh were sold on the regulated market to 7.9 million customers reporting revenues of $ 4,721 million.