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.
Lack of legal certainty, electricity theft and social conflicts are forcing businessmen in Guatemala's energy sector to choose to relocate their investments to El Salvador.
Last year, the companies Applied Energy Services (AES) and Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), both US and Guatemalan capital, decided to invest $47 million in solar energy projects, encouraged by the facilities offered to the energy sector in El Salvador.
In Panama, five companies were prequalified in the tender process to design, build and manage the fourth electric transmission line.
From a statement issued by Etesa:
Panama, September 3, 2018. Five proponents prequalified in the first phase of the process to select a contractor who will design, build and manage the Fourth Electric Transmission Line project, by complying with the necessary technical, legal and financial requirements, in the process carried out by Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica, S.A. (ETESA) with the objective that whoever builds the project has the capabilities that the largest Central American project in its category deserves.
The Congress of Costa Rica has finally approved a $500 million loan for the state electricity company to carry out electric generation and transmission works, including three geothermal plants.
Of the total amount of the loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved by the Legislative Assembly, close to $200 million will be used to finance the Pailas II, 50 MW, and Borinquen I, 55 MW geothermal projects, both in Liberia, Guanacaste.
After requesting an extension to postpone the date of entry into operations, authorities at AES Panama confirmed that the plant will begin operations on September 1.
Construction of the plant started in May 2016 and will have three generators, three gas turbines and one steam turbine, reaching a total installed capacity of 381 MW.
Corporación AES El Salvador has announced that this year it will replace 50 thousand electromechanical meters with digital meters, and will increase the voltage of the energy supplied in the center of the capital.
Regarding the plan to raise the voltage from 4.16 Kv to 23 Kv in downtown San Salvador, representatives from the energy company explained that the increase will be made in order to respond to growth that has been registered in demand.
In 2016, the average cost of 1 kWh in Central America was 13.48 cents, while in Costa Rica, it was 18.47 cents.
A report from the CEPAL indicates that in 2016, the average cost of one kilowatt hour (kWh) in Central America was 13.48 cents, while in Costa Rica it was 18.47 cents; 37% more for industrial consumption of 100,000 kWh.In El Salvador and Guatemala, it was 11.03 and 11.54 cents respectively. In Panama, 10.92 cents.
Although distributors aimed to award up to 428 MW, only the Empresa de Generación Eléctrica de Haina presented a price in its offer which was lower than the maximum value established, $0.86 / Kwh.
From a statement issued by Corporación Dominicana de Empresas Eléctricas Estatales:
SANTO DOMINGOThe Bidding Committee for Purchase of Energy awarded 40 megawatts out of a total of 428.6 it had to offer, because only one generation company offered a price below 8.6 cents, the maximum value which the distributors Edenorte, Edesur and EdeEste (EDE) are willing to buy at.
Between January and September of this year, the energy supply grew by just 1.7% compared to the same period in 2016, led by renewable energy sources.
Figures from the Comptroller General show that up until September 2017, the supply of energy this year stood at 7,912,784 kWh, while in the same period last year total availability was 7,778,238 kW.
The National Electric Power Company of Honduras has received 18 bids in the tender to supply 820 MW of firm capacity and associated energy.
Authorities at the National Electric Energy Company (ENEE) detailed that the companies who won contracts will be announced before the end of the year.The objective is to contract out 820 MW of firm capacity and itsassociatedenergydivided into four sub-blocks, for the period from January 27, 2018 to January 27, 2028.
Good quality electricity provided at a fair price is what the business sector needs, and it is demanding a more open market that facilitates the presentation of better offers by operators.
Currently the average price per kilowatt hour of electricity in Honduras ranges between $0.15 and$0.17, one of the highest in the region. An alternative to reducing these prices and improving the quality of energy is to facilitate the participation of more operators in public energy tenders, so that, as the businessman Jimmy Dacareth suggests, the "... the best offers that they may have" can be presented.
The new entity, attached to the Economic Development Cabinet, will be in charge of the development and supervision of the electricity market strategy.
The entity will be in charge of the formulation, planning and execution of the strategies and policies of the electricity sector, as well as the integration with the regional electricity market.
For the third time, the contractor in charge of the Transmission Expansion Plan in Guatemala, will not meet the deadline to finalize the works.
The amount of progress on the Electric Expansion Plan (PET), whose contract was awarded to the Colombian company Trecsa more than seven years ago, is only 66%.The project was supposed to have been be ready and in operation since 2013, but the company contracted asked the governments in office at the time for two extensions - in 2013 and 2015.
In the month of July nine companies received commercial authorization as Large Users in the Wholesale Market.
From a Bulletin by the Wholesale Market Authority:
During the month of July, authorization was granted to Mercado Mayorista la Unidad 1 del Proyecto HidroXacbal Delta, with an installed capacity of 29.22MW, and to Generador Distribuido Renovable Hidroeléctrica Cutzán with an installed capacity of 1.95MW.
The National Interconnected System Expansion Plan for the period 2017-2031 will be put to public consultation until August 31.
The Expansion Plan for the 2017-2031 National Interconnected System was prepared by Etesa and will be available for public consultation until August 31.