In El Salvador, the terms of reference were announced to be published in November 2020, with details of the tender to design a biogas plant in the country.
According to directors of the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (Cel), an ambitious investment plan is being worked on which, in addition to the new biogas plant, includes the development of new geothermal plants.
In the first three months of 2020, Central American companies bought electric motors and generators abroad for $29 million, 39% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
During 2019, 80 environmental impact studies were presented to carry out work on electrical networks and to build energy generation plants in different areas of Central American countries.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", of the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, includes an updated list of public and private constructionprojects that present environmental impact studies (EIS) to the respective institutions in each country.
In the first nine months of 2019, the region's companies bought electric motors and generators abroad for $127 million, 35% less than what was reported for the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
As a result of the debt that the National Electric Energy Company has with the generators, the business sector fears that in 2020 there will be rationing in the supply of electricity.
For the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (Cohep), it urges that the Honduran government cancel the debt to the power generators, which totals about $568 million. If the obligations are not paid, severe service rationing could be reported in the middle of next year, according to productive sector forecasts.
In the first half of 2019, purchases of electric motors and generators in the region totaled $84 million, and imports made by companies in El Salvador and Panama grew 80% and 35%, respectively.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In the first three months of 2019, 14 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to perform work on electricity grids and develop power generation plants.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private constructionprojects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
The construction of a thermoelectric plant in Panama, a food processing plant in Costa Rica and a vertical residential complex in Guatemala are part of the projects planned for the coming months in the region.
The interactive system "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private constructionprojects that are expected to be built in the coming months.
From January to September 2018, imports of electric motors and generators totaled $195 million, 80% more than in the same period in 2017, because of purchases from El Salvador from Spanish companies.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
In the first six months of 2018, purchases of electric motors and generators in the region totaled $74 million, of which 51% was imported by companies in El Salvador and Guatemala.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at 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.
Last year, 87 environmental impact studies were submitted in the countries in the region, for the construction of power generation plants and works on electricity networks.
Panama is the country in the region where the largest investment is concentrated, with an approximate $1.29 billion in energyprojects, corresponding to 32 environmental impact studies submitted to the Ministry of the Environment between January and December 2017.
The sugar mill union could be investing $160 million in energy generation projects that use ethanol and in the construction of a biomass-based power plant.
Without giving further details, members of the sugar trade union reported that they are planning to build a biomasspower generation plant in the short term, which could be the most modern one in Central America.
In 2016 imports of electric motors and generators in Central America totaled $148 million, and purchases from the South American country grew 61% compared to 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Electric Motors and Generators Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
The National Electricity Company is preparing the specifications to tender 60 MW in the regional market and 120 MW in the local market in early 2017.
Authorities at the National Electricity Company (ENEE) plan to contract out 180 MW of firm power, for which reason they are ruling out offers that come from power plants based on solar and wind power.