Companies in the sector are proposing taking advantage of surplus energy and developing more generating capacity in order to become large exporters.
The proposal put forward by the Chamber of Energy (CEN) is to use the geological characteristics of the country to exploit energy generated from renewable sources such as solar, biomass and water.The President of the CEN explained that they suggested to the government that discussion be started so that Nicaragua"... can be a 'powerhouse' for exporting electricity, importing plants and occupying the regional market."
The energy industry has doubts about the continuity of the project, whose feasibility could depend on the results of the corruption case involving its concessionarie Eletrobras.
Entrepreneurs in the energy sector in Nicaragua still have reservations about the feasibility of the Tumarín hydroelectric station construction project which was granted in concession to the consortium composed of Eletrobras and Queiroz Galvao, which are now involved in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Brazil. To date, the only certainty is that "... 'They bought the land, signed the agreements for the sale of energy, but we don't see any tractors removing land' said Cesar Zamora, chairman of the Chamber of Energy of Nicaragua, during a panel in which the energy outlook of the country was discussed. "
The population's increased access to electricity, the growth of irrigation systems, and buoyant economic activity explain the estimated 10% increase in demand for energy in 2015.
These factors accounted for most of the significant growth in energy demand in the country in 2015, said Cesar Zamora, country manager of IC Power and chairman of the Chamber of Energy in Nicaragua, to El Nuevo Diario.
The Nicaraguan Energy Institute has confirmed that the reduction in the tariff schedule has the support of employers, despite a further decrease being expected.
The president of the Nicaraguan Energy Institute (INE), David Castillo, told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that this reduction in energy comes on top of another 10% which was approved in April 2015. It was also noted that if the oil price continues to fall, further reductions will be analyzed every three months.
The private sector will be proposing to the government the signing of a partial agreement and investment promotion with India and negotiation of a trade agreement with South Korea.
These proposals aim to increase trade relations, where in the case of South Korea, in 2014, Guatemala reported imports of $402 million and exports worth $269 million, with the most notable products sold being sugar, lead and coffee.
Uncertainty about the beggining of the project is worrying entrepreneurs in the energy sector.
Since 2012 the hydroelectric station should have been generating 253 MW, however, uncertainty over the project "puts at risk the country's goal of changing the energy matrix, which, according to the Minister of Energy and Mines, Emilio Rappaccioli, would result in 74% of the energy generated in 2018 coming from clean sources," reported an article in Laprensa.com.ni.
The new government authorities want to emphasize improving competitiveness and investment attraction.
More competitiveness and attracting foreign investment. Those are the two axes of a renewed foreign trade policy announced by the National Council for Promotion of Exports (CONAPEX) in Guatemala.
"The new policy modernizes the current one and will be integrated into the national competitiveness agenda with a new proposal," said Maria Luisa Flores, Vice Minister of Economy, cited byPrensaLibre.com.
This weekend the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, inaugurated a structure called a spillway which will protect the Apanas Lake basin in the north of the country from flooding.
Official sources revealed through radio and television stations affiliated with the Government that the structure was built by 600 workers in one year at a cost of approximately $6.4 million.