During 2020, 17 environmental impact studies were presented to carry out works in electrical networks and build power plants in different areas of Central American countries.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", from CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Unit, provides an updated list of public and private construction projects that have submitted environmental impact studies (EIA) to the respective institutions in each country.
A hydroelectric plant in Guatemala, a hotel in Panama and the expansion of an industrial plant in Costa Rica are part of the investments planned for the coming months in the region.
The interactive system "Construction in Central America", from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, includes the updated list of public and private construction projects that are expected to be developed, which in just that month totaled close to $1,000 in projected investment.
Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica de Honduras tenders the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of specialized equipment for the Francisco Morazán Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Honduras Government Purchase PRRCH-61-LPI-O-:
"Supply, Installation, Testing, Commissioning and After-Sales Service of Four (4) Digital Static Excitation Systems for Synchronous Generator and (4) Excitation Transformers for the Francisco Morazán Hydroelectric Power Plant.
In the first nine months of 2018, 33 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to develop energy generating plants and work on electricity grids.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
After spending $146 million over six years, Costa Rica's state-owned electricity company finally decided to cancel construction of the Diquis hydroelectric power plant in Puntarenas.
Authorities of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), informed that decided to cancel the hydroelectric project due to the fall in national energy consumption and because the country has sufficient installed electricity capacity to meet demand in coming years.
Adverse court decisions against companies, social and political conflicts and fiscal issues are some of the factors that are impeding the development of productive projects in Central American countries.
One of the latest court decisions affecting companies with investments in the region was that of Minera Petaquilla, in Panama. The contract that this company had signed with the Panamanian State was declared unconstitutional last week.
The new Minister of Environment and Energy in Costa Rica is opposed to the Diquís project, which the state electricity company has been promoting for ten years, and which consists of building a hydroelectric generation plant in Puntarenas.
While the new leaders of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) announced their intention to refloat the project, which due to unconstitutionality appeals filed against it has remained on paper for years, the Ministry of Environment and Energy has declared its opposition, stating that "... there are no studies or other assessments on the social and economic impact that justify the declaration of national convenience given to the project a decade ago."
In Costa Rica, the state power company will have to pay $112 million to the contractor of the Chucás hydroelectric project, for "additional expenses that it authorized and then refused to recognize."
In the ruling issued by the International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (CICA), to which the company Enel Green Power Costa Rica appealed to resolve a conflict that originated in 2015 due to an almost $148 millionincrease in the Chucás hydroelectric project, which has not yet been completed, it was established that Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) acted with "bad contractual faith".
In Costa Rica a lawsuit filed against the ICE by Unión Fenosa Generadora La Joya, has been rejected. The case included a $7.9 million claim for alleged overcharges for the suspension of a hydroelectric project in Turrialba.
Nacion.com reports that "...The case dates back to 2002 and relates to a BOT - build, operate and transfer - contract signed between the ICE and the Spanish private generator to produce 50 Megawatts (MW) of energy with a water source in the canton of Turrialba."
Office towers in Costa Rica, a hydroelectric plant in Panama and an industrial plant in Guatemala are some of the projects planned for development in the coming months in the region.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America" compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData provides an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which EIA's were submitted to the respective institutions of each country in April 2017.
A bill proposes banning for 25 years the development of hydroelectric projects and concessions for extraction of mineral materials in the course of the Naranjo River in Puntarenas.
Members who proposed the bill argue that it is necessary to establish this prohibition due to the damage and contamination observed in the Manuel Antonio National Park due to the "... indiscriminate exploitation of the Naranjo River."
In Costa Rica a 37 MW hydroelectric project whose estimated cost was $94 million, ended up costing the state $361 million due to poor supervision and control of the work.
The public report of the preliminary investigation on Balsa Inferior Hydroelectric Project, prepared by the Compañia Nacional de Fuerza y Luz, found "... serious irregularities and omissions in the supervision and control of the work, which was described as ´'informal' in the company's investigation."
With capacity to generate up to 17,58 MW the hydroelectric plant in Bijagua in Upala, Alajuela province has started operating.
From a statement issued by the President of Costa Rica:
Bijagua, Upala April 14, 2016. The cooperative Electrificación Rural de Guanacaste has started operating its new Bijagua hydroelectric plant, located in the canton of Upala, Alajuela province, which will power 21,000 homes.
The state run electricity company reported that the first turbine in the Reventazón Hydroelectric Project of 73 MW went into operation in 2016 and that it will launch the other 4 generators.
The long-awaited entry into service of the Reventazon hydroelectric plant promises to bring some relief to electricity rates which in recent years have been a factor of concern in the manufacturing sector in Costa Rica, as well as putting the country back on the path chosen decades ago towards a clean energy matrix.
A story that has now been going on for twenty years could be resumed with the adoption of a legal framework to be used to consult with the natives living in the area where the 650 MW plant would be built.
EDITORIAL
Finally, there is a legal framework to start once and for all the "intercultural dialogue" that is needed to give the green light to the construction of one of the most important hydroelectric projects for the future energy supply of the country.