In El Salvador, the terms of reference were announced to be published in November 2020, with details of the tender to design a biogas plant in the country.
According to directors of the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (Cel), an ambitious investment plan is being worked on which, in addition to the new biogas plant, includes the development of new geothermal plants.
The Empresa Nacional de Energia Electrica de Honduras (Honduran National Electric Power Company) is putting out to tender at the international level a high-level individual consultancy service for the preparation of specialized terms of reference and budgets to strengthen the country's electricity transmission capacity.
In the first three months of 2020, Central American companies bought electric motors and generators abroad for $29 million, 39% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
Due to the drop in economic activity generated by the covid-19 crisis, a 7.9% reduction in domestic electricity consumption was reported in the region between March and June 2020, when compared to the levels of the same period in 2019.
Regarding the reduction of internal consumption of electricity in the countries from March to June 2020, we have that Guatemala had a drop in its demand of 239 GWh (Gigawatt hours), which corresponds to 6.6% compared to the consumption of electricity in 2019, in the case of El Salvador with a reduction of 335 GWh, equivalent to 15.4%, says a report from the Regional Operating Agency (EOR).
During 2019, 80 environmental impact studies were presented to carry out work on electrical networks and to build energy generation plants in different areas of Central American countries.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", of the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, includes an updated list of public and private construction projects that present environmental impact studies (EIS) to the respective institutions in each country.
Empresa Nacional de Energia Electrica de Honduras tenders for the expansion of the San Buenaventura substation.
Honduras Government Purchase ENEE-2-LPI-O:
"The scope for the expansion of the substation consists of the supply, design engineering, installation, transfers, spare parts, factory and on-site testing, and commercial operation.
The contractor will have to build a bay with two power switches that will connect to a feeder to receive the new transmission line coming from San Pedro Sula South Substation, which consists of the supply and installation of electromechanical equipment in the substation yard such as 230kV power switches, 230kV potential transformers, 230kV lightning arresters, 230kV three-pole disconnectors, metallic support structures for major and minor equipment, 230kV inductive potential transformers for the substation's own service.
If the quarantine and mobility restriction measures are extended by two months, it is forecast that by the end of the year the annualized demand for electricity generation, transmission and distribution in Central America will have fallen by 4%.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of Covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies according to their sector or economic activity, considering various scenarios for the coming months.
In Central America, it is projected that the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the business of retail sales of gasoline and oil products will be explained mainly by the expected drop in gasoline and diesel sales.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies according to their sector or economic activity, during the coming months.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.87, Nicaragua $3.28, Honduras $3.27, Guatemala $2.93, El Salvador $2.54 and Panama, $2.81
From the Ministry of Economy report of El Salvador:
The current reference prices present significant declines for gasoline and diesel, these declines respond directly to the events of the break of the pact between OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, and the countries that had made an alliance with the organization, represented by Russia.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.82, Nicaragua $3.61, Honduras $3.39, Guatemala $2.99, El Salvador $2.98 and Panama $2.81.
From the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador report:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel maintain a mixed trend (ups and downs), these variations are because of the continuous fall in the reserves of these products.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.10, Nicaragua $3.51, Honduras $3.39, El Salvador $2.95, Guatemala $2.92 and Panama $2.81.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel show a mixed trend (ups and downs), these variations are due to the continuous fall in the reserves of these products, according to reports provided by the IEA in February 2020.
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.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.08, Nicaragua $3.52, Honduras $3.51, El Salvador $2.96, Guatemala $2.96 and Panama $2.81.
From a statement by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel show a marked decline at the national level, which reflects the emergency experienced by China because of the coronavirus.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.07, Nicaragua $3.52, Honduras $3.45, El Salvador $3.04, Guatemala $3.02 and Panama, $2.83
From a statement by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel, show low prices at national level, due to the outcome of the conflict between the United States and Iran, where the Arab country attacked two military bases located in Iraqi territory.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.07, Nicaragua $3.52, Honduras $3.45, El Salvador $3.04, Guatemala $3.02 and Panama $2.83
From the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador's statement:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel present generalized increases, due to the recent geopolitical conflicts between the United States and Iran during the first weeks of January 2020, which is why the international prices of oil and derivatives increased by an average of 4%.