In Costa Rica, the works of the restoration project of the electrical distribution network of the Guadalupe-Moravia sector are tendered.
Costa Rica Government Purchase 2018PP-002091-ACL:
The entity calling for the public procurement process is the Compañía Nacional de Fuera y Luz, and according to the tender specifications the deadline for receiving proposals is January 16th, 2019.
In Panama, the executive authorized a credit line of up to $50 million for the state-owned Etesa to finance investments contemplated in the electric expansion plan.
The approval for the Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica, S.A. (Etesa) to subscribe a line of credit with Banco General, will allow the state company to partially finance maintenance works to the electrical distribution network in the country.
The works consist of the design, supply and construction of the amplification of the civil and electromechanical works in the transformer yard of the Panama substation.
Panama Government Purchase 2018-2-78-0-08-LV-010844:
" This project consists of the design, supply and construction of the amplification of the civil and electromechanical works in the 230/115/13.8 kV transformer yard of the Panama substation for the replacement of power autotransformer No. T3; it also includes the engineering and integration of the new equipment with the existing Protection and Control Automation System in the substation for the full connection of all the equipment to the National Interconnected System (SIN).
In a new attempt, the authorities of the Regional Electricity Market announced the beginning of the feasibility study for the creation of a market through which electricity can be commercialized between Central America and the North American country.
Currently, Guatemala is the only country in the Northern Triangle that directly commercializes energy with counterparts in the Mexican market.
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 Nicaragua, electricity consumption in the industrial sector fell 4% between March and August of this year, mainly due to the political and social crisis the country is currently experiencing.
Sergio Maltez, president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Industry (Cadin), explained to Laprensa.com.ni about the reduction in electricity consumption that "...
Difficulties in a generating plant in Costa Rica and the growing regional energy demand are some of the reasons of the increase in electricity exports from Guatemala.
Statistics by Banco de Guatemala report that between January and July of this year sales abroad of electric power amounted to $81.7 million, an amount that exceeds by 36% the $60 million registered in the first seven months of 2017.
From January to May of this year, Guatemala exported $7 million worth of electricity to Mexico, well above the one million dollars reported during the whole of 2017.
According to data from Banco de Guatemala, during the first five months of the year the country exported $51 million worth of electricity, of which 14% was bound for Mexico.
In El Salvador, Nautilius Inkia, Nautilius Distribution and Nautilus Isthmus have been given approval to acquire the share capital of Nejapa Power Company, Cenérgica and Poliwatt Limitada.
From a statement issued by the Superintendency of Competition (SC):
Tuesday, July 10, 2018.The Board of Directors of the Superintendence of Competitionauthorized the request for economic concentration consisting of the acquisition of the share capital of Nejapa Power Company, S.A., Cenérgica, S.A. de C.V. and Poliwatt, Limitada, by Nautilius Inkia Holdings LLC, Nautilius Distribution Holdings LLC and Nautilius Isthmus Holdings LLC.
In Panama, discussion continues over a bill that would modify regulation of the electricity sector, including, among the most controversial changes, setting limits on concessions granted to companies.
For months, the Trade and Economic Affairs Commission in the Assembly of Panama has been discussing Bill 573, which modifies the regulatory framework for the provision of electricity services.
As of February 2018, Costa Rica had an installed solar capacity of 27 MW, which is equivalent to only 0.76% of the equipment interconnected in the National Electric System.
According to a study carried out by the Costa Rican Solar Energy Association (Acesolar), whose final results will be published next month, Costa Rica is lagging behind in the use of solar energy, even compared to other Central American countries.
In Panama, a bill is being discussed which would modify the legal framework of the electricity sector, and among the proposed changes is setting limits on concessions granted to companies.
The National Assembly of Panama reported that "...The Trade and Economic Affairs Commission continued discussion of Bill 573, which modifies the regulatory framework for the provision of electricity services, witha reading of the modifications presented by the parties."
The Bank of Costa Rica is putting out to tender the readjustment of the main electricity system of the central offices of the entity.
Costa Rica Government Purchase 2018LA-000002-0015700001:
"The project consists in developing an integral solution to adapt the main electrical system of the Central Office Building, considering the analysis of the different power sources such as the external public service and the backup electric generators. In addition, the main distribution boards located in each of the floors of the building, load centers of the elevator system, main air conditioning equipment and other representative loads.
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)."
From January to September 2017, countries in the region imported $229 million worth of electrical transformers, and 43% were purchased by companies in Costa Rica and Panama.
Figures from the information system "Market for Electric Transformers and Converters and Reactor Coils in Central America" , compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]