In El Salvador during 2021, AES announced that it plans to invest between $60 and $75 million in the development of new solar energy projects and works in the distribution network.
The Commerce and Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Panama, approved in first debate Bill No. 512, which establishes the program for special investments in the public service of electric energy distribution.
The constant complaints that have been made lately about the lack of electric fluid in several sectors of the country, are due to the lack of maintenance of the network, and although an investment program is currently being planned, it cannot be assured that this will make a significant difference in the quality of the service, since apart from what is projected, it must be established that additional investments are made to improve the operation and maintenance of the distribution concessionary companies, explains an official statement.
In El Salvador, the initial plan was that the new Energia del Pacifico power plant would begin operations in early 2022; however, it is currently projected to begin operations until July 1 of next year.
The project located in the Acajutla port area, which will have an installed capacity of 378 megawatts and began construction in 2015, will be delayed a few months.
During 2019, electricity purchase and sale transactions between Central American countries amounted to 3,074 GWh, a 14% increase compared to 2018.
Figures from the Regional Operating Entity (EOR) show that the average price recorded in regional transactions during 2018 and 2019 also increased, going from $74.05 per MWh to $90.11 per MWh.
Between 2018 and 2019 the energy generated by thermal sources in Panama grew 110%, a rise that contrasts with the 23% drop reported between 2017-2018.
The most recent data from the General Comptroller of Panama, in 2019 11,135 million kwh were generated, which is equivalent to a 3.3% increase over the 10,783 million offered in 2018.
Electricity distributor AES El Salvador announced that this year it plans to invest $36 million in modernizing the network, which includes the renovation of 8,120 residential and industrial meters.
The company's directors informed that they are contemplating works to expand the electricity distribution networks, the renovation of smart meters, the maintenance of overhead lines and the growth in the construction of underground networks.
For the quarter from February to April, tariffs will remain stable because certain variables with a direct impact on generation costs do not show significant changes.
Between -0.01% and -0.03%, variations will oscillate for EEGSA, DEOCSA and DEORSA users, informed the National Commission of Electric Energy (CNEE).
Arguing that there is a risk that energy transactions in the region will become more expensive, Guatemalan businessmen are asking the outgoing government to refrain from approving or signing reforms to the Central American Electricity Market Framework Treaty.
Because on January 10 the discussion is programmed within the Director Council of the Regional Electric Market of Central America (CDMER), the subscription of the Third Protocol, which would reform the Framework Treaty of the Electric Market, the private sector of Guatemala has issued an alarm before any change in the regulations, since it could cause increases in the prices of energy transactions or generate negative effects in the Guatemalan market and its interconnection with Mexico.
Electricity generators claim that the Regional Operator Entity arbitrarily disconnects Guatemala from the rest of the countries in the region, and that since 2016 up to date the disconnections already add up to 600 hours.
The National Association of Generators of Guatemala (ANG) claims that the Regional Electricity Interconnection Commission (CRIE) does not comply with the resolutions of the Central American Court of Justice (CCJ), which ordered Guatemala to stop disconnections from the regional electricity system.
In the first three months of 2019, 14 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to perform work on electricity grids and develop power generation plants.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
In Panama, the construction of the 230 Kv Sabanitas - Panama III Transmission Line and associated substations is tendered.
Panama Government Purchase 2019-2-78-0-03-LP-011271:
"The contract includes the performance of the following works:
-Supply, Assembly and works related to the Construction of the Panama III Sabanitas Line, specifically from the Mocambo sector where the Panama III Substation will be located to Sabanitas, Colón where the Sabanitas Substation will be located.
After several years of carrying out studies of the work, the governments announced that they plan to begin working on the standardization of regulations to sign the agreement of the electrical interconnection project.
In a press release published on March 19, Panama's Presidency stated that Panama's Energy Secretary, Victor Urrutia, informed that the Agreement required for the implementation of the electric interconnection project that will link the Andean and Central American systems will soon be signed.
To continue with the tender process of the Fourth Transmission Line, ETESA will have to better justify the real need of the project and define the optimal date of entry into operation.
To continue with the tender process, the Public Services Authority (Asep) has requested from the Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica (Etesa) a justification for the development of the construction project and operation of the Fourth Transmission Line.
According to entrepreneurs dedicated to the distribution of electricity in El Salvador, the rigid legal regulations prevent progress being made on issues such as the development of distribution networks and improvements to the quality of service.
Representatives from the Association of Distributors of Salvadoran Electric Power (Asdees), believe that due to the gap between technological advances and the backlog of the regulatory framework for the sector, the country is losing competitiveness.
Plans are underway to build a 9.6-kilometer-long transmission line between the substations of the future GTPP plant and that of Sabanitas, located in the province of Colón, Panama.
The company Martano Inc submitted an Environmental Impact Study (EIA) to build a 9.6-kilometer-long transmission line from the site of the future substation in the Río Alejandro Energetic Park project to the Sabanitas substation, owned by Empresa de Transmisión S.A.