Difficulties in a generating plant in Costa Rica and the growing regional energy demand are some of the reasons of the increase in electricity exports from Guatemala.
Statistics by Banco de Guatemala report that between January and July of this year sales abroad of electric power amounted to $81.7 million, an amount that exceeds by 36% the $60 million registered in the first seven months of 2017.
At last the Constitutional Court of Guatemala has spoken about the operation of Minera San Rafael, which has been paralyzed for more than a year, ordering a community consultation as a requirement to resume operations.
The project has been halted since mid-2017, when the environmental organization Calas filed an application for a declaration of fundamental rights against the mine, arguing that the Ministry of Energy and Mines had not carried out the community consultations before authorizing the operation licenses.
Perenco Guatemala, the current operator of the pipeline, was the only bidder in the tender to obtain the concession for the operation and administration of the Hydrocarbons Transportation Stationary System.
The contract to operate the system includes a 425 kilometer pipeline, five pumping stations and the Piedras Negras export terminal, in Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla, and the model of the contract to operate and manage it will be for a maximum of 25 years, with an option to extend.
The Mining Exploitation Project Niquegua Montufar II, run by Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel, and the one called Tajmulco II, by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, have been suspended by the government.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines indicates that "...Adhering to the appeal granted by the First Chamber of the Court of Appeals of the Civil and Commercial Branch constituted in the Court of Appeal, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), notified Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel (CGN), of the suspension of its authorization license for operating the mining exploitation project Niquegua Montufar II. "
Although it is not yet clear how it will be financed, representatives from both governments have started to work on the technical and legal details of the project.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "... Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has put forward a scenario in which includes gas produced by Mexico and the gas imported from the US. The cost is estimated at around US $737 million and the execution would be carried out between 2016 and 2017. The rates, according to preliminary figures, would be around US $8.10 / MMBtu (one million BTU) between the cost of gas and its transfer to Guatemala. "
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). He said that in addition to studying investment opportunities in this sector in the nations of the region, Guatemala is seek to reaffirm its leadership position in Central America.
With the recently awarded contracts and tenders in process, it is estimated that by 2017 the energy matrix will grow by 52%, with hydropower accounting for 41.3%.
Prensalibre.com reports that "...With the contracts awarded, which are for 15 years, the installed power generation capacity will go from 2,519 megawatts (MW) recorded last May to three 3,836 MW. "
The Ministry of Energy and Mines is planning a tender for geothermal power generation to complement the renewable energy tenders that have already been announced.
Minister Erick Archila told S21.com.gt that "... we are at the stage of planning and development ... 'For the first time we have projects using other technologies such as solar and wind, which could start in early 2015; this fourth tender will be a complement.'"
In the second half of 2013 the country sold 450.9 GWh to the region, nearly four times more than the amount exported in the same period in 2012.
The energy crisis affecting countries such as Honduras has forced them to increase dependence on imported energy from Guatemala, which has become the leading supplier in Central America.
The government of Guatemala is inviting companies to take part in an international tender for the construction of 604 kilometers of the electrical transmission network.
As previously announced on July 15, the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Guatemala has convened a formal tender to expand electricity coverage of the country through ".... the installation of 29 new substations, expansion of 22 existing ones and the adaptation of 51 kilometers of line."
A year after six areas for oil exploration were awarded, five of them still dont have contracts signed between the contractors and the government.
Prensalibre.com explains that "...The five areas that are pending are those awarded to Galax Garden Corporation, for the the San Francisco fields; the company Island Oil Exploration Services, SA, which will operate in Laguna Blanca; Trayectoria Oil & Gas Career, which will be situated in Cancuén as well as Greenfields Petroleum Guatemala, El Cedro Petén, Quiché and Alta Verapaz, and Loon-Petroleo Limited in Xacbal."
The increase in sales of lead abroad has been attributed to the shipments that have begun from the Escobal mine, belonging to Canada's Tahoe Resources.
Lead exports increased by $141 million between January and May this year compared to the same period last year, according to the Central Bank of Guatemala.
An announcement has been made that the conditions for the tender for 574 kilometers of power lines will be released on July 31.
The work comprises of "... 29 new substations, expansion of 25 new lines and more than 12 adaptations, establishing 574 kilometers of electricity transmission, divided into 5 lots covering the national territory."
Reports have arisen that the document signed by the Presidents of both countries, is not even accessible and there is even less basic information about the project's feasibility.
To date there has been no information available on the technical studies, financial analysis and feasibility reports. Neither is the data on the geographical path of the project, rights of way to be acquired, the intended beneficiaries, the source of the total funding required and the overall impact of the mega project.
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