Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad is evaluating the Salvadoran market to determine if there is an opportunity to establish itself as a new broadband operator.
The state telecommunications company already has a presence in Nicaragua, where in conjunction with the state company Enatrel, it operates the company Telecomunica, which provides internet and television services.
The law affecting wind power plants has been declared void and space opened for new operating rules for the electricity system.
The Ministerial Agreement that sought to change the rules of operation of the electricity system has been declared without effect, after the National Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel), the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and the Chamber of Energy in Nicaragua announced they will work on a new regulation to keep the system as it has worked so far, reported El Nuevo Diario.
The IDB is providing $40 million in financing for construction of power substations in the north and $90 million for renovation of roads in Jinotega and Chontales.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly of Nicaragua:
$40 million for electrical substations
A $40 million loan signed with the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) was approved on February 16 by the plenary, which will be used to fund the construction of three new substations.
The Nicaraguan government's plan for this year includes substantial investments in electricity coverage and electrification.
From the Plan of the Government of Nicaragua 2016:
NATIONAL ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION COMPANY AND MINISTRY OF ENERGY (ENATREL AND MEM)
In 2016 we will reach a national electricity coverage rate of 90%, electrifying 86,553 urban and rural houses, serving more than 452,000 protagonists with the construction of 623 kilometers of electricity distribution networks in: Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Estelí , Granada, Jinotega, León, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, RAAN, RASS, Rio San Juan and Rivas.
Wind and bagasse plants will resume the upload of all of their electricity production to the national grid, after having reduced the amount in the past few days, at the government's request.
After a meeting between representatives from the National Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel) and renewable energy power plants, an agreement has been mde to normalize production and resume supply to the national grid.
The National Electricity Transmission Company of Nicaragua is putting out to tender the supply of electrical equipment and components for the construction of distribution networks.
Government Purchase Nicaragua 7/2014.
"LPI-007-2014-PNESER SUPPLY OF BUILDING MATERIALS FOR DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS".
The purchase is part of the National Program for Sustainable Electrification and Renewable Energy (PNESER).
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.
More projects for water and sanitation, roads and electricity distribution will receive funding from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
Among the projects to be funded is the rehabilitation of the Juan Pablo II runway, which will be run by the mayor of Managua and the purchase of new transformers and electrical connecting units for the National Electricity Transmission Company (ENATREL).
The National Electricity Transmission Company (Empresa Nacional de Transmisión Eléctrica) requires small hydro stations to sign a collaboration agreement and grant a general power to the State.
The Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel) requires Small Hydro Power stations (SHPs) to sign a cooperation agreement and grant a general power of business to the state.
The government is building eight substations and is looking for funding to develop eight more in different regions.
At the moment in Nicaragua 8 electric substations are under construction and another eight are planned for 2016. The Government of the country is looking for funding for these projects, whose cost is estimated at $27 million.
The country needs these 16 electrical substations "for electricity projects being run as part of the Sustainable Electrification and Renewable Energy (NPHS) project to improve the electricity connections in the Pacific."
Negotiations are being held with India for a $57 million loan to build two electrical substations and a 138 KW transmission line.
Salvador Mansell, chief executive of the National Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel) announced that it is negotiating a $57 million loan with India in order to build three power projects in Nicaragua. These are two electrical substations and a transmission line of 138 kilowatts.
Empresa Nacional de Transmisión Eléctrica has taken out a $48 million loan from South Korea for new substations and distribution lines.
From a press release by Empresa Nacional de Transmisión Eléctrica (Enatrel):
The Government through Empresa Nacional de Transmisión Eléctrica (Enatrel) has signed a cooperation contract with company representatives from DAEWOO International Corporation and Hyundai Engineering, Company Limited, in the amount of $25 million, resources which are to be invested in building the new substations El Sauce, in the department of León, and Ocotal, Nueva Segovia, and also in the expansion of substations San Ramon, Matagalpa and Esteli, in the department of Estelí. In addition assembly of transmission 138 kV (kilovolt) lines will be made to link these to the National Interconnected Electrical Substation .
Between 2013 and 2016 the aim is to increase the coverage of the electricity service in Nicaragua from 73% today to 87%.
The state-owned company Empresa Nacional de Transmisión Eléctrica (Enatrel) reported that by 2016, the government hopes to expand the energy service coverage to nearly 90%.
"... Enatrel initially plans to invest $567 million in the installation of 2,858 kilometers of distribution network to 134,990 homes," noted an article in Americaeconomia.com.
Nicaragua has inaugurated a modern plant for photovoltaic power generation, with 5880 solar panels capable of generating 1.38 MW.
Located in the municipality of Diriamba in the province of Carazo province, 59 kilometers south of Managua, the project required an investment of $11.9 million, of which $11.4 million was donated by the Government of Japan and the rest was provided by the National Treasury.
Thanks to a recent reform, the National Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel) of Nicaragua can form associations with private companies for future optic network extensions.
As a step towards modernizing the electrical system and networking in the country, the Nicaraguan National Assembly has recently approved an amendment to Law 583, Law Creating the National Electricity Transmission Company (Enatrel).
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