In 2017, purchases of electric wires and cables from Central American countries totaled $791 million and grew by 74% with respect to the previous year, in contrast to the fall recorded between 2015 and 2016.
Figures from the information system of the Market of Wires, Cables and Other Electricity Conductors in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
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.
The Commonwealth of Border Municipalities of Intibuca, in Honduras, is putting out to tender rural electrification in different communities.
Honduras Government Purchase LPN-AMFI-09-2015:
"CONSTRUCTION OF RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT FOR EXTENSION OF THE NETWORK TO THE COMMUNITIES OF CALLEJONES AND PIEDRA PARADA, IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF COLOMONCAGUA DEPARTMENT OF INTIBUCÁ CODE 104764."
The Association of Municipalities of La Paz Center in Honduras are putting out to tender the construction of two Rural Electrification Projects.
Honduras Government Purchase LPN-MAMCEPAZ-2015
"Construction of Rural Electrification Project Connected to the Network Located in the community of "San Martin", Municipality of San José (Cod. 104768), Department of La Paz."
The South Korean company says it will be investing $300 million in public infrastructure, including works on electrification, renewable energy projects and hospital infrastructure.
For the construction of a hospital in Choluteca the multinational Samsung plans to invest $35 million, while for the electrification in rural areas and renewable energy projects it has estimated it will spend $40 million and $45 million respectively.
In 2013 63% of the electrical energy fed into the transmission networks in the region was generated from renewable sources.
From a report entitled "Central America: production statistics for the electricity subsector, 2013", prepared by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC):
"... The production of electricity in the six countries amounted to 45,735 GWh, 3.3% higher than in 2012.
Through the Electric Interconnection System for Central America costs incurred from thermal generation in the country could be cut.
Accelerating the implementation of renewable energy projects or buying the shortfall in energy in the regional market rather than renewing contracts that are expiring with thermal generators are the alternatives being proposed by the private sector to "lower pressure" on finances of the National Electricity Company (ENEE) .
The transport of electricity between El Salvador and Guatemala through the Electrical Interconnection System for the Countries of Central America is limited to 170 MW.
This is despite the fact that the Electric Interconnection System for Central American Countries (Siepac) has capacity to transmit 300 MW, said Luis Herrera, manager of the Wholesale Market Administrator (AMM) in Guatemala.
Guatemala is the most interested country in speeding up regulation establishing the model of firm contracts within the regional electricity market.
This was explained by Guatemalan Vice Minister of energy, Edwin Rodas.
The idea of this is to harness the Electrical Interconnection System for Central America (Siepac) not only for the sale of energy to other countries, but also to provide telecommunications services over optical fibers which these lines have.
On June 1 the Regional Electricity Market Rules and the Supplementary Detailed Procedure Electrical Interconnection System for Central America became effective.
"It's a big step forward for electrical integration. These are rules designed to operate the SIEPAC line and power transmission capacity between countries with greater intensity," said the executive director of the Regional Operating Agency (EOR), Rene Gonzalez.
Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica announced that it is preparing a tender for the supply of 300 MW of coal-fired power.
According to the manager of Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE), Emil Hawit, "we want to launch a tender for 300 megawatts of coal and the team is preparing the specifications. All ENEE technicians are working on this and then a Central American consultant will be hired.
Honduras is negotiating with the Industrial Bank of China for financing the first stage of Patuca III hydroelectric dam.
"We are happy because we are moving pretty fast in negotiating the terms of the loan, we are looking for the most favorable conditions for the country, we hope that in 30 days we will have closed deal," said Wilfredo Cerrato, chief of the Ministry of Finance.
The public hearings, undertaken as part of the tender for three trusts to privatize the services provided by the Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica, have been were postponed.
From a press release issued by the Commission for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (COALIANZA):
COALIANZA announces that, in order to ensure the success of the bidding process which aims to award the trusts to start the project "Loss Recovery Services Provided by the National Electric Power Company, ENEE, the public hearings scheduled for today Thursday, May 9 and May 10 on Friday morning have been postponed.
The Honduran Social Investment Fund is putting out to tender the construction of a rural electrification project in the communities of Guaxinlaca and Pajapas.
The purpose of the tender is the "Construction of Rural Electrification Project in the Communities:
Lot No.1: Guaxinlaca, Municipality of San Andres, Lempira Department.
Code 101904
Lot No.2: Pajapas, Municipality of Santa Cruz, Department of Lempira.
The project, which was initially promoted by the Taiwanese State Power Company , was canceled in 2009, and now $300 million is being sought in China for its implementation.
Wilfredo Cerrato, Minister of the Ministry of Surety (SEFIN) and Foreign Minister Arturo Corrales, are touring mainland China in order to complete the process of negotiations for the financial support of about $300 million with which the project Patook III would be carried out.