Because of the increase in energy demand, last year in Guatemala the Electricity Supply and Water Collection sector was the sector that explained the largest increase in the GDP calculation.
Notwithstanding the conflict that has affected the development of several hydroelectric projects, the electricity supply and water collection sector has reported year-on-year increases of more than 4.5% for the 2010-2018 period.
During the first half of the year, countries in the region imported $197 million in electrical cables and wires, and 63% were bought by companies in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Figures from the information system of the Market of Wires, Cables and Other Electrical Conductors in Central America, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Price per gallon of regular gas: Costa Rica $4.11, Honduras $3.84, Nicaragua $3.79, El Salvador $3.37, Panama $3.32 and Guatemala $3.29.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The production increase of the three major exporters of petroleum and its products at the end of October 2018 has contributed to the fall in international prices; the United States have produced approximately 11.5 million barrels per day, 500 thousand barrels more than its average production; Russia 11.3 million barrels per day, expecting to reach 11.4 million barrels per day in the next weeks; while Saudi Arabia produces an average of 10.7 million barrels per day, with expectations of increasing to 11 million barrels per day. With this increase in production, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has expressed that the oil markets seem " suitably supplied for now," and with a lower expectation in the demand for petroleum and products for 2019.
In response to the energy exports to Mexico, the CRIE warned Guatemala last month that it must comply with rules that protect the stability of the regional system.
Arguing that Guatemala is a signatory of the Framework Treaty for the Central American Electricity Market, the Regional Electricity Interconnection Commission (CRIE) warned that the norms designed to protect the stability of the Regional Electricity System (SER) must be fulfilled.
Price per gallon of standard gasoline: Costa Rica $4.21, Nicaragua $4.07, Honduras $3.87, El Salvador $3.56, Guatemala $3.52 and Panama $3.21.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
According to data from the IEA, the United States is in full season of hurricanes and the passing of Hurricane Michael through the Gulf of Mexico, on the production of crude oil and derivatives, generated losses in the two days of closure of the storm that represented about 9% of U.S. production of 11.1 million barrels per day. Making the reference prices for gasoline and distillates will present mixed fluctuations.
The Central American countries imported washing machines and their parts for $29 million between January and March 2018, and 70% were bought by companies in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.
Figures from the information system of the Laundry Machines Market and its Parts in Central America, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Lack of legal certainty, electricity theft and social conflicts are forcing businessmen in Guatemala's energy sector to choose to relocate their investments to El Salvador.
Last year, the companies Applied Energy Services (AES) and Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), both US and Guatemalan capital, decided to invest $47 million in solar energy projects, encouraged by the facilities offered to the energy sector in El Salvador.
Due to a group of demonstrators who have taken over the Chixoy hydroelectric facility, there is a risk that in Guatemala electricity service rates will increase by up to 10%.
Since September 25th, a group of people claiming the payment of a complementary compensation has taken over the hydroelectric plant Chixoy, one of the most important in the country, and threatens to set it on fire.
Regular gasoline gallon price: Costa Rica $4.28, Nicaragua $3.99, Honduras $3.83, El Salvador $3.57, Guatemala $3.38, and Panama $3.21.
From the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador report:
As a result of the last meeting held by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algeria last September 23rd together with countries not belonging to the organization led by Russia, it was agreed not to increase the production of crude oil despite the deficit generated by the third largest producer of the organization (Iran), due to the financial sanctions imposed by the United States; This has directly impacted the international prices in a notorious tendency to increase in the last weeks, since there will be less product (crude oil and all its products) to offer before a growing demand, and that the United States by itself cannot cover, unless OPEC increases its production, a subject that will be taken up until the meeting on December 3rd in Vienna, Austria.
Guatemala exported $10 million worth of electricity to the neighboring country in the first seven months, significantly more than the one million dollars reported in 2017.
Sergio Recinos, Banco de Guatemala president, said to Dca.gob.gt that "... With regard to this activity, greater dynamism is expected in electricity generation associated with the expected increase in external demand from Mexico and the restructuring of the energy matrix'.”
Due to the upward cycle of the barrel international price, between January and August the country has bought $1.844 million in petroleum products, 22% more than in the same period of 2017.
Regarding this growth in the import amount, Enrique Melendez, executive director of the Guatemalan Association of Gasoline Dispensers, explained to Prensalibre.com that "...
The National Electrification Institute of Guatemala is putting out to tender the supply and commissioning of boards in the auxiliary services distribution system of the Jurún Marinalá plant.
Due to social conflicts and various legal processes, 16 hydroelectric projects have been halted in Guatemala, which together amount to an investment of close to $1.5 billion.
The Association of Generators of Renewable Energy (Ager) reported that power generation projects have been suspended because of conflicts with communities in the zones, consultation processes with indigenous peoples, and orders issued by the Constitutional Court, many of which which have been in response to claims raised by environmental organizations.These projects, for which no light can yet be seen at the end of the tunnel, represent an installed capacity of 460 MW.
In the last ten years the use of renewable energy has doubled in the country, and currently sources of generation of this type represent between 65% and 70% of national consumption.
According to the authorities at the National Electricity Commission (CNEE), the stability that has been achieved in electricity rates and the lower dependence on oil derivatives, is due to the fact that the country is consuming more energy generated through renewable sources.
español
2731