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.
On November 4th, Guatemala City will host a regional summit on energy investments in Central America.
From A statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
The minister Erick Archila has announced that Guatemala will host a summit on energy investment in the countries of the Mesoamerican region which will take place on November 4, convened by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).
In the second half of 2013 the country sold 450.9 GWh to the region, nearly four times more than the amount exported in the same period in 2012.
The energy crisis affecting countries such as Honduras has forced them to increase dependence on imported energy from Guatemala, which has become the leading supplier in Central America.
"...The last year's winter in southern Central America was not as copious as in Guatemala, which allowed it to export more energy. Added to this is its great potential as a producer.
The government of Guatemala is inviting companies to take part in an international tender for the construction of 604 kilometers of the electrical transmission network.
As previously announced on July 15, the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Guatemala has convened a formal tender to expand electricity coverage of the country through ".... the installation of 29 new substations, expansion of 22 existing ones and the adaptation of 51 kilometers of line."
A total of 32 new hydroelectric projects are being developed in different stages in the country with a capacity to generate 1,128 MW.
Although Guatemala has hydro potential for generating 5000 MW, so far only 18% is being utlised, through the 20 hydroelectric stations currently operating which have the capacity to generate 937.50 MW.
" ... According to an inventory of the projects in the possession of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, last updated on 18 February and which includes projects of over 5 MW, eight projects are under construction with a capacity of 369.97 MW. In addition, 19 projects have been approved but have not yet started construction, having capacity of 648.85 MW, and five more are pending permits and process with capacity for 109.33 MW . "
An evaluation is being made on whether to raise from 250 MW to 400 MW the PG3 tender in order to compensate for the delay in the project by Jaguar Energy, projected to be 600 MW for this year.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines and the National Electric Energy Commission are looking at increasing the energy in the PEG 3 tender from 250 MW to 400 MW. The contest will take place between April and June.
Delays in the construction of 45 power plants which have already been awarded are mainly due to social issues and permits.
According to Edwin Rodas, Deputy Minister of Energy, 40% of these projects have been delayed because of financial issues, social problems and lack of permits for easements. Starting May 2015 these plants will have to supply power to Energuate and Empresa Electrica de Guatemala SA (EEGSA).
The Ministry of Energy and Mines has given approval for the hydroelectric station Raaxhá in Alta Verapaz, with capacity to generate 10 MW for a period of 50 years.
"The awardee the contract, Hidroeléctrica Raaxhá, will install the plant in the municipalities of Chisec and Coban, Alta Verapaz, and will have a capacity to generate 10MW," reported Elperiodico.com.gt.
The four plants in operation in Guatemala increased their share to 22% of the total, up from 15% a year ago.
According to data from the Wholesale Market Administrator (AMM), the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Association of Independent Cogenerators (ACI), the country has four active coal plants, with an effective power of 284 MW, plus 6 under construction, which will provide 600 MW.
On September 19 a tender will be launched by Empresa Electrica de Guatemala and Energuate for the long-term supply of 250 megawatts .
The information was confirmed by the Minister of Energy and Mines (MEM), Erick Archila.
According to the director of Regulation at Energuate, Dimas Carranza, the plan is to tender 250 megawatts in 15 year contracts , with operations starting in 2017.
In June a new bidding process will begin to award 200 megawatts of electricity in Guatemala.
This was announced by the chief of Energy and Mines, Erick Archer during his presentation at the investment forum Investment Summit 2013.
Archila said that in 2014 another 200 megawatts will be offered, which would amount to more than a thousand megawatts tendered during this administration.
Construction of 850 kilometers of lines interconnecting lines should have been finished by August, but now the project will take two additional years.
According to Sandra Fonseca, president of Trecsa, the firm responsible for the project, several drawbacks have meant changing the delivery date to September 2015.
"This is an expansion project of transmission lines covering 74 municipalities.
With a generating capacity of 75 MW, the Xacbal Delta hydro station will be built upstream of the existing Hydro station Xacbal.
By Ministerial Agreement 321-2012, the Ministry of Energy and Mines has authorized the company Energía Limpia de Guatemala, the use for 50 years of Xacbal River water for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 75 megawatts.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines in Guatemala has temporarily authorized hydro power station El Retiro to perform an energy study at the Madre Vieja river.
"The approval is for a maximum period of one year, for the use of the river Madre Vieja, between the following markers: maximum 1.120 meters above sea level and a minimum of 940 meters above sea level, located in the municipality of Pochuta, Chimaltenango", reported Prensalibre.com
A convocation by the National Electric Energy Commission of Guatemala brought together 40 companies who raised several questions regarding the draft bill.
The main concerns raised included the qualification criteria, types of contracts and prices, and indexing of fuels.
An article in Prensalibre.com reports that "Some 40 representatives from companies who are potential bidders for the 600 MW tender attended the convocation by the National Energy Commission (CNEE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) in order to exchange concerns, create feedback and define the specifications. "