Between the period from March to May 2020 and the same period in 2021, electricity consumption increased by 5%, a rise that can be attributed to the increase in exports and tourism activity.
Data from the National Energy Control Center (Cence) highlights that for the periods under analysis, consumption at the national level went from 2,780 to 2,906 Gigawatt hours (GWh), which is equivalent to an increase of 126 GWh.
During last year, imports of electric generators increased year-on-year in Nicaragua and Guatemala, and decreased in Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras and El Salvador.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
Empresa de Transmision Electrica Dominicana tenders the construction of the Jimani 138kV Substation, the contract includes the supply of all the necessary equipment for its operation.
Dominican Republic Government Purchase ETED-CCC-LPN-2021-0025:
"The works include the design, manufacture and supply of the equipment, as well as all equipment support structures and Gantries.
Empresa Nacional de Energia Electrica de Honduras tenders’ goods and related services for renewable energy generation systems, through microgrids in Brus Laguna, department of Gracias a Dios and Guanaja, in the department of Isla de la Bahia.
Honduras Government Purchase PERLA-30-LPI-B:
"Manufacturer's Authorization is required for all Goods and Services required, which are contained in Lots 1 and Lot 2, and which are indicated below:
Empresa de Transmision Electrica de Panama warns that Bill 342, which was approved in the first debate in the Assembly, threatens the stability of the local electric sector by delaying and making it impossible for electric projects to enter into operation due to the lack of transmission lines.
In note No. ETE-DAL-029-2021, sent to the Committee of Commerce and Economic Affairs of the National Assembly of Deputies, ETESA's manager, Carlos Mosquera Castillo, warned the parliamentarians about the inconveniences of Bill 342 - recently approved in first debate - which repeals an article of the sole text of Law 6 of 1997, regarding the procedure for the use and acquisition of easements, explains an official statement.
Arguing that due to the pandemic it is not feasible to call a public tender, the bidding processes for 400 MW to be contracted to cover the long-term demand of three distributors were suspended in Guatemala.
At the beginning of the year, it was reported that before the end of the first quarter of 2021, the National Electricity Commission (CNEE) had planned to call the public tender in which 400 MW would be put out to bid.
In El Salvador during 2021, AES announced that it plans to invest between $60 and $75 million in the development of new solar energy projects and works in the distribution network.
As of April 2021, the Ventus wind power plant, an electricity generation park with an installed capacity of 54 MW, will begin operating in El Salvador.
The new power generation park, which has 15 wind turbines of 120 meters high each, is located in the municipality of Metapan, Department of Santa Ana.
The Commerce and Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Panama, approved in first debate Bill No. 512, which establishes the program for special investments in the public service of electric energy distribution.
The constant complaints that have been made lately about the lack of electric fluid in several sectors of the country, are due to the lack of maintenance of the network, and although an investment program is currently being planned, it cannot be assured that this will make a significant difference in the quality of the service, since apart from what is projected, it must be established that additional investments are made to improve the operation and maintenance of the distribution concessionary companies, explains an official statement.
In El Salvador, the initial plan was that the new Energia del Pacifico power plant would begin operations in early 2022; however, it is currently projected to begin operations until July 1 of next year.
The project located in the Acajutla port area, which will have an installed capacity of 378 megawatts and began construction in 2015, will be delayed a few months.
For the period from February to April 2021, Deocsa and Deorsa users will be subject to a 1.5% increase in the price of electricity, and for Eegsa customers the increase will be 0.4%.
According to the National Electric Energy Commission, in general terms, it is possible to indicate that for the following quarter the tariffs will show slight variations derived from the regular behavior of macroeconomic variables that have a direct incidence on the costs transferred to tariffs.
In Nicaragua, the company New Fortress Energy announced that it has already started with the construction works of a natural gas plant, which will have an energy generation capacity of 300 MW and will be located near Puerto Sandino, department of León.
Executives of the North American company stated that the project has begun its decisive phase and according to the schedule, it is expected that between May and June the generating plant will begin operations.
In Panama during May 2020 the demand for electricity from the commercial sector bottomed out, as consumption fell to 195 million kwh due to the pandemic, but in the following months the figures improved and in November the turnover rose to 297 million kwh.
Although the cumulative figures from January to November 2020 show that consumption in commercial establishments fell by 26% compared to the same period last year, a significant recovery was reported in the last months of last year.
Due to changes in people's habits, energy consumption in commercial establishments, offices and industrial complexes has decreased, contrasting with the rise in demand in residential areas.
The quarantines and restrictions on mobility that Central America has experienced due to the covid-19 outbreak and the latent risk of contagion, has caused radical changes in the region's electricity market.
The National Institute of Electrification of Guatemala tenders the construction of the 69 Kv transmission line that connects the Champerico electrical substation with the La Maquina substation, which has a length of 34 kilometers.
Guatemalan Government Purchase 13529021:
"Lines to be contracted:
Line 1: 69 Kv Champerico - La Maquina transmission line, of approximately 34 kilometers, which includes detailed Engineering and Design, Management, Negotiation and Constitution of Easements on behalf of INDE, Supplies, Civil Works, Electromechanical Works, Dressing, Laying out, Arrowing, Tests and Commissioning of the 69 Kv transmission line.