During 2019, 80 environmental impact studies were presented to carry out work on electrical networks and to build energy generation plants in different areas of Central American countries.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", of the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, includes an updated list of public and private construction projects that present environmental impact studies (EIS) to the respective institutions in each country.
The Costarican Institute of Electricity delivered the Las Pailas II Geothermal Plant located in Curubandé, Guanacaste province, at a $366 million cost.
According to projections, the work became more expensive and was delivered months late, since the 2016-2035 Generation Expansion Plan specifies that the plant had an initial cost of $335 million and was to begin operations in January 2019. The total final investment was $366 million.
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.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the geothermal power generation potential of the region is 20 times higher than the current installed capacity.
The main reason behind the low utilization of geothermal energy is the high cost incurred in the initial stages of exploration and evaluation of available resources.However, once that stage is over, it becomes a more economical source of electricity than others, such as fossil fuels, according to studies by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The Costa Rican Congress decided not to approve a $500 million loan that the state run power company wants to take out with the IDB to finance geothermal power generation projects in the country.
The deputies argued that they were not clear about the financial situation of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), which would receive the loan, for which the State would act as guarantor.The decision to halt the loan approval comes two days after President Solis announced he is facing a liquidity crisis.
Costa Rica's state-owned power company has signed a $240 million loan with Japan to build the Borinquen I geothermal plant in Liberia, which could start operating in 2023.
The construction project for the geothermal plant will require a total investment of $374 million, of which $240 million will be covered by the loan from the Government of Japan and the remaining amount, with funds from the Inter-American Development Bank and resources from the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
Finally, the Congress in Costa Rica will discuss a bill that proposes the exploration and exploitation of geothermal energy in national park lands.
Studies carried out by the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) estimate potential geothermal energy generation in the country at 875 MW, where current installed capacity is 195 MW.
In Costa Rica current installed capacity is 195 MW, in a country whose generation potential identified in studies by the state run power company amounts to 875 MW.
Opportunities for growth in geothermal power generation in the country are reflected in these 680 MW which are available and as yet untapped, according to the 2014-2035 Expansion Plan for Electricity Generation by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
A $224 million loan from the Japanese government will be used to build the Borinquen I geothermal plant, which will start operating in 2023 with an installed capacity of 55 MW.
The agreement of understanding signed between the governments of Costa Rica and Japan includes the construction program, the investment scheme and procurement plan, among other technical, legal, environmental and financial aspects.
Insurance coverage, tax incentives and drilling costs shared between private businesses and governments are some of the proposals put forward for exploiting geothermal potential in Central America.
A global study by the World Bank analyzes the reasons why it has not been possible to take full advantage of geothermal energy in Latin America, highlighting countries such as Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile, whose potential to generate energy through this renewable source has still not been fully exploited, mainly because of the high risks involved in geothermal projects in their early stages.
The financing agreement between the IDB and the government provides funds to complete the geothermal plants Pailas II and Borinquen I and II of 55 MW each, and other electrical infrastructure.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
Authorities at the Ministry of Finance, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) signed a cooperation agreement to finance investment projects CR-X1014 for an amount up to $500 million.
With a loan from the IDB it is hoped that the state power geothermal projects Pailas Borinquen I and II will be completed and improvements made to the transfer line from Guanacaste and its connection to Central America.
The plan by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) is to invest the proceeds of the loan between 2017 and 2025, starting with projects under development in Guanacaste, Borinquen Pailas I and II.
An announcement has been made that the German government will have a credit line of $113 million available to fund geothermal projects in Central America.
The announcement was made by the German ambassador to Nicaragua, Karl-Otto König, who said in an article on Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "...Central America is a region with 'considerable potential' for generating thermal energy which comes from the ground or from volcanoes. "
The successful completion of the first geothermal project using the build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme demonstrates the effectiveness of such mechanisms to develop productive infrastructure.
Under the mechanism Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT), construction and commissioning of the Miravalles III geothermal plant has been completed, which the companies Marubeni Corporation and GeoEnergía of Guanacaste Ltda, officially delivered to the Institute Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) on May 13, after having operated it for 15 years.