In Guatemala, the distribution company Energuate appealed the resolutions of the National Commission of Electric Energy, arguing that the losses because of social conflict were not considered in the authorized tariffs for the next five years.
The controversy began after the National Commission of Electric Energy (CNEE) approved the Non-Social Tariff and Social Tariff Sheets for the 2019-2024 period, which stipulate the final prices of electric energy service for users of Distribuidora de Electricidad de Occidente S.A. -DEOCSA- and Distribuidora de Electricidad de Oriente S.A. -DEORSA-. See CNEE newsletter.
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.
From June 5 to 9, companies from the energy industry will be gathering together in San Pedro Sula to take part in business conferences and discuss issues that are relevant to the sector.
The initiative is being run by state entities and the private sector, and will take place between June 5 and 9 at the Convention Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (CCIC) in San Pedro Sula.
Corporación AES El Salvador has announced that this year it will replace 50 thousand electromechanical meters with digital meters, and will increase the voltage of the energy supplied in the center of the capital.
Regarding the plan to raise the voltage from 4.16 Kv to 23 Kv in downtown San Salvador, representatives from the energy company explained that the increase will be made in order to respond to growth that has been registered in demand.
The proportion of energy generated from renewable sources increased from 27% of the total energy generated in the country in 2006, to 53% in 2016.
An annual report by the Nicaraguan Institute of Energy (INE) states that net generation in 2016 at the national level increased by 11.4%, going from 4,220.91 GWh in 2015 to 4,700.7 GWh in 2016.The plants that generate clean energy contributed 52.8% of this energy and the remaining 47% was supplied by plants that use fossil fuels.
The private sector demands more actions from the government to solve the problem of restrictions on the sale of energy in the regional network, imposed by the Regional Operator.
Since October and to date the Regional Operator Entity (EOR) of the Siepac has disconnected Guatemala from the regional network on several occasions, preventing local generators from exporting their surplus to other countries in the region.
Approval has been given to the tender document to contract energy and firm power for the province of Darién, the Guna Yala region and the archipelagos of Las Perlas and San Blas.
The tender, to be published in PanamaCompra, is to contract Firm Power and Required Energy for Isolated Systems, located in the province of Darién, Guna Yala District, Las Perlas Archipelago and San Blas Archipelago, for the periods between September 1,2018 to June 30,2030, and from July 12020 to June 30,2030.
Seven new companies received business licenses as heavy users of the wholesale market in March.
From a Bulletin by the Wholesale Market Authority:
In March commercial ratings were processed and finalized for Renewable Distributed Generators (GDRs by their initials in Spanish) with solar technology, for Granja Solar La Avellana, Granja Solar El Jobo, Granja Solar Pedro de Alvarado each with an installed capacity of 1,000 MW, and Granja Solar Taxisco with an installed capacity of 1,500 MW. Also enabled were the following GDRs with hydraulic technology: Proyecto Hidroeléctrio El Salto - Marinalá with 5,000 MW of installed capacity, Pequeña Hidroeléctrica Xolhuitz with 2,300 MW of installed capacity and Hidroeléctrica Carmen Amalia with 0.686 MW of capacity.
The National Electricity Company will have to convene a new tender to replace the four contracts for 520 MW of thermal energy maturing between 2017 and 2018.
In 2017 a contract for 80 MW with Elcosa and another for 240 MW with Lufussa will come to an end, while in 2018 a contract for 200 MW with Enersa will be finalised.The National Electricity Company will convene a new contest in which power generating companies based on natural gas, have expressed interest in participating.
Of the 34,629 GWh generated in 2015 by the countries included in SICA, 68% came from hydropower, 11% from cogeneration in sugar mills, 11% was geothermal, 9% wind and 0.1% based on biogas.
From a report by Cepal entitled "Statistics of electricity production by countries in the Central American Integration System (SICA)":
After several delays, the natural gas power plant Energía del Caribe located in Monterrey will start to supply Eegsa and Energuate the 120 MW agreed in the contract awarded in 2012.
Steffan Lehnhoff, project developer,"... reported that from todaythe contract is in effect for the first 60 MW and on July 25 the other 60 MW will be added."
The plan is to implement longer terms in contracts and release energy and power demand from large customers.
The Energy Plan 2015-2020 presented by the National Secretariat of Energy in Panama is broken down into two main parts: first, the Short-Term Operational Plan 2015-2019, where proposals for the period are detailed, and second, the National energy Scenarios Plan 2015-2020, including projections of fuel prices and other energy sources and demand estimates, expected changes in the energy matrix and the future role of private companies in the energy system.
Entrepreneurs are invited to take part in the sixth edition of ExpoEnergía, to be held from June 7 to 11 at the Convention Center in San Pedro Sula.
The Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mining (My Environment) in Honduras is convening the sixth edition of ExpoEnergía, to be held from June 7 to 11 at the Convention Center in San Pedro Sula.
In the next 35 years more than $11 billion will need to be invested in new projects in order to meet electricity demand, which is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5%.
Projections by the General Secretariat of Energy also indicate the need to invest in replacing power lines every ten years, with an estimated $3 billion of investment within 35 years.
It has been announced that by the end of the year the specifications to tender the supply of 150 MW in renewable energy will be ready.
From a statement issued by the Agency for Export and Investment Promotion of El Salvador (PROESA):
The Export and Investment Promotion Agency of El Salvador (PROESA) chaired the announcement by the National Energy Council (CNE) that a new bidding process will be started for the procurement of 150 Megawatts (MW) of power focusing on projects based on unconventional renewable sources and exclusive participation in the wholesale market.