During 2018, 39 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to build energy generating plants and work on electricity grids, projects estimated at $455 million.
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.
Last year, 87 environmental impact studies were submitted in the countries in the region, for the construction of power generation plants and works on electricity networks.
Panama is the country in the region where the largest investment is concentrated, with an approximate $1.29 billion in energy projects, corresponding to 32 environmental impact studies submitted to the Ministry of the Environment between January and December 2017.
From June 5 to 9, companies from the energy industry will be gathering together in San Pedro Sula to take part in business conferences and discuss issues that are relevant to the sector.
The initiative is being run by state entities and the private sector, and will take place between June 5 and 9 at the Convention Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (CCIC) in San Pedro Sula.
With 19% endemic poverty, 10% open unemployment and 40% informal employment, and some of the highest electricity rates in the region, Costa Rica is opposed to $1 billion in clean energy investments.
EDITORIAL
By Jorge Cobas González
Meanwhile, the bureaucracy of state-owned companies continues to prescribe first-world remuneration, and continues to protect its privileges following ECLAC development concepts from the middle of the last century, which are utterly out of place today.Because Costa Rica does not have the investment capacity or know-how necessary for the development of latest generation renewable energy projects, even though it has all of the necessary primary conditions: sun, wind, thermal energy.
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.
Between May 2016 and the same month in 2017, 27 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region for development of energy generation projects.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business 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 in each country.
Of the 34,629 GWh generated in 2015 by the countries included in SICA, 68% came from hydropower, 11% from cogeneration in sugar mills, 11% was geothermal, 9% wind and 0.1% based on biogas.
From a report by Cepal entitled "Statistics of electricity production by countries in the Central American Integration System (SICA)":
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).
Although the installed capacity is currently small, strong growth is projected in the region as a result of tenders with prices that favor large-scale projects.
A report by IHS Technology predicts rapid growth of photovoltaic capacity in Central America, which will supposedly reach 22 megawatts in 2018.
In reading this report, it should be noted that the country experiencing the largest part of that growth is Honduras, where multiple large-scale projects have been announced in which we have not yet seen the required economic viability, which casts serious doubts on their actual realization.
On August 20th and 21st energy companies in the sector in Latin America will meet in Managua to discuss issues related to energy management in the countries of the continent.
The Latin American Energy Organization and the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Nicaragua are organizing the event, to be held on 20th and 21st August in Managua.
The regional electricity market, renewable energy and energy efficiency will be the topics addressed at the event to be held on 27, 28 and 29 August in San Salvador.
From a press release issued by the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists:
The Salvadoran Association of Industrialists, ASI, will be holding the 1st Regional Congress of Energy on 27th, 28th and 29th of August.
The European Investment Bank will support investment in hydropower, wind, geothermal and photovoltaic systems in Central America.
The program is being conducted in partnership with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) and seeks to free up more than $500 million for investments in public and private projects using clean energy in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama.
Nicaragua alone has geothermal potential of 2000 MW , and the region as a whole has total exploitable potential of 5000 MW.
The Geothermal Regional Training Center, based in El Salvador, is promoted by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and has the cooperation of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The entity was created under the framework of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program in Central America(4E).
While in other Central American countries there is a boom in projects for clean energy generation, in the past three years El Salvador has not registered any.
According to data from Bloomberg, for the past three years, El Salvador has not recorded any investment in clean or renewable energy, its last investment was made in 2007, when it invested $45 million.