In Honduras, the company in charge of the controversial Agua Zarca project has announced the decision about its future as a "goodwill gesture that will help reduce tension and facilitate a solution".
From a statement issued by the hydroelectric company Agua Zarca:
Tegucigalpa, July 6, 2017.Hydropower Agua Zarca announced today its decision to suspend the hydroelectric project.This is a gesture of goodwill that will help to reduce tension and facilitate a solution regarding the future of this clean and renewable energy initiative.
The state run company ENEE is selecting enterprises to expand the capacity of the hydroelectric plants Canaveral and Rio Lindo, in the north of the country.
The idea is for funds to be managed through a distribution trust, which would use money raised through the security tax.
The manager of Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctric (ENEE), Roberto Ordonez, explained that "...
The National Electric Power Company has announced that the repair of the crack in hydroelectric station El Cajon, awarded to the Italian company Astaldi, will now start in March.
After several delays in the project to repair the dam, the National Electricity Company (ENEE) now announced that the works will start in March so as not to affect reservoir levels, taking advantage of the summer.
While waiting for the start of the repair works, the Honduran authorities are complaining about a lack of resources to cover operating expenses for November and December.
Authorities at the Cajon dam have request at least $94,000 from the Budget Committee of Congress to cover operating costs for the final months of 2014.
Juan Francisco Argeñal, the hydroelectric station's manager, told Laprensa.hn that "...
The Honduran government has announced that China has approved a $297 million loan, after a year of negotiations, which will be used to finish work which has been on hold since June 2014.
The loan term is 15 years plus a 5 year grace period, with an interest rate of 4.5% and it is expected that the first disbursement will be made in the next 30-60 days.
After the 15% advance payment to the Italian company the repairs to the dam in Honduras will begin in December and will take two years.
After countless delays, repair of the hydroelectric finally will finally have free reign, after the award in May and the signing of the contract in August to repair cracks and the slope in the tunnels.
Leonardo Deras, technical assistant manager of the National Electric Power Company told Laprensa.hn that "... The contract has now been signed, and guarantees presented and what is being done now is to pay the down payment, then the contractor will move into the area. "
Work has stopped on the Patuca III hydroelectric project pending funding which is being negotiated with the Chinese government for the continuation of the second stage.
Lack of funding and problems with the expropriation of land surrounding the project are part of the problems that this project has faced since it was first conceptualized in 2010. Now Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica has stopped work while a new construction loan is being negotiated with the Chinese government, which would allow, although the amount has not been mentioned, for the "... continuation of the construction of the curtain wall and installation of generation turbines in the machine room."
With the investment in two new turbines the plant 's lifespan has been lengthened and annual production increased by an additional 26 GWh.
In addition to reducing the high costs of maintenance, the repowering of the hydroelectric station aims to gradually increase its ability to reach a production of 80 GWh per year, with surpluses being sold to the state at a lower price than at present, generating savings of $2.90 million a year.
In Costa Rica the high electricity rates are driving out foreign investment while indigenous opposition impedes progress of the construction of a 650 MW hydroelectric power plant.
It is time that the region starts to balance conservation policies with the needs of development so as to allow an escape from poverty for those who are currently held down by it and who at the same time are holding the rest of society hostage.
The Vegona dam will have the capacity to generate 40 MW, equivalent to nearly 3% of the total generation capacity of the country.
In the coming days the dam will start operating, having been constructed in late 2013 and undergone testing and adjustments from January to date.
"The president of the Honduran Association of Renewable Energy Producers (AHPER), Carolina Castillo, said the upcoming start of power generation operations is a significant event in the process of tilting the energy mix."
The state lacks the funds needed to keep power plants operating.
The way some of the country's hydroelectric plants have been handled has led to an increase in rumors about a possible "informal" privatization of Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE).
"The case is illustrated by an agreement that the former manager of Enee Roberto Martinez signed with the company PHP, which allowed PHP to generate four to six megawatts in parallel with the state run power station El Níspero, which has a plant that generates 22.5 megawatts."
Failure to comply with the conditions set by Italy is threatening the $32 million needed to finish off the Nacaome dam.
In March an Italian mission will be visiting Honduras to discuss the progress of the commitments agreed in order for a loan to be granted for the Nacaome dam. "The overall amount of funding for developing irrigation components, water and electricity is $160 million, of which $32.6 million will be for the construction of eight gates in the dam to generate 30 MW."
The same companies that had participated in two failed international tenders have submitted two bids for the repair of the El Cajon dam.
The Consortium MOS, made up of the Swiss company Rodio Swissborring and the Venezuelan Trevi Cimentaciones, the Italian Astaldi S.P.A., China's Sinohydro Corporation Limited and the Mexican Tecnosuelo S.A. de C.V. , submitted bids in the private tender conducted by Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE) for repairing cracks in the El Cajon hydroelectric station.
Of the 80 hydroelectric projects approved four years ago by the Honduran Congress only four are in operation and seven others are just starting to be built.
According to Roberto Cardona, Secretary of Natural Resources, "the recent installation of a working group for renewable energy which integrates potential local and international financial institutions and international cooperation agencies is an option to advance in the construction of hydroelectricity stations" , reports Laprensa.hn.
After the failure of two tenders for the repair of cracks in El Cajon, the contract for approximately $30 million will be awarded directly.
Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE) has $30 million available to carry out the work."We have to look at the parameters and see if the law allows us to negotiate a contract directly. When you do not have any bidders, you take the ones that are there and follow the path with them directly," said Emil Hawitt, manager of the company.