Latin America News

Latest news and developments from Latin America region

• Colombian EPM installs first 500 kV transformer at the 2.4 GW Ituango HEP

  February 23, 2021
  Recently, Colombian Empresas Públicas de Medellín E.S.P. (EPM) has installed the first 500 kV transformer at the 2.4 GW Ituango hydroelectric project (HEP), of the planned 25 high voltage transformers.

• Brazilian Cadehas initiates analysing EDP’s transmission acquisition

  February 22, 2021
  As per news reports, Brazil’s competition regulator Cadehas has started analysing the acquisition by Portugal’s Energias de Portugal (EDP) of Mata Grande Transmissora de Energia (MGTE)—a consortium formed by IG Distribuição e Transmissão de Energia and ESS Energias Renováveis.

• Colombian UPME aborts tender for grid-scale energy storage system

  February 18, 2021
  Colombian mining and energy planning unit, Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética (UPME), had to abort an initial attempt to award a supervisory contract for the country's first grid-scale, energy storage project, due to lack of interest.

• Brazilian Celgpar approves privatisation of CELG GT [free access]

  February 15, 2021
  Brazilian Celgpar – a holding company owned by the state government of Goiás, which controls Celg Geração e Transmissão S.A. (CELG GT), has decided to continue the process of selling its shares in the latter, in addition to its holdings in other projects.

• Dominican Republic’s ETED launches optic fibre services

  February 11, 2021
  The Dominican Republic transmission utility, Empresa de Transmision Electrica Dominicana (ETED), has launched a new telecommunications division to provide optic fibre services, and has allocated DOP750 million for the same.

• Panama’s ETESA to invest USD5.13 million in 100 MVA transformer installation

  February 10, 2021
  Recently, Panama’s state-owned electricity transmission company, Empresa de Transmision Electrica (ETESA), has earmarked an investment of USD5.13 million for the installation of a new 100 MVA transformer at the La Chorrera substation, in place of the existing one installed in 1995.

• Ecuador’s CELEC EP to build Las Orquídeas transmission system

  February 8, 2021
  Ecuador's state-owned power company, La Empresa Pública Estratégica Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP), via its transmission unit Transelectric, will construct the 230 kV Las Orquídeas transmission system, valued at USD45.6 million.

• Chilean CEN launches international tender for Kimal–Lo Aguirre HVDC Project

  February 1, 2021
  Chilean national electricity system, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional (CEN), has officially launched an international tender for awarding the rights of execution for the Kimal–Lo Aguirre high voltage direct current (HVDC) project.

• Colombian UPME launches tender for Pacific transmission project [free access]

  February 1, 2021
  Colombian mining and energy planning unit, Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética (UPME), has launched a tender for power transmission facilities to be implemented in the western part of the country.

• Ecopetrol presents non-binding offer to acquire stake in Colombian ISA

  February 1, 2021
  Recently, the Colombian oil and gas company Ecopetrol (88.5 per cent state-owned), has presented a non-bidding offer to acquire 51.4 per cent stakes in Colombian power company Interconexión Eléctrica's (ISA), which is owned by the government of Colombia.

• Ecuador’s CELEC EP presents EIA study for 230 kV Tanicuchí transmission system

  January 26, 2021
  Ecuador's state-owned power company, La Empresa Pública Estratégica Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP), via its transmission unit Transelectric, presented the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study of the new 230 kV Tanicuchí transmission system in a public assembly.

• Brazil adds 6,160 km of transmission lines and 14,500 MVA of capacity in 2020

  January 25, 2021
  Brazilian energy regulator, Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL), confirmed that 6,159 km of new transmission lines and 14,485 MVA of transformer capacity were added to the Brazilian transmission network during 2020.

• Chilean CEN publishes USD717-million transmission expansion proposal for 2021

  January 25, 2021
  The Chilean national electricity system coordinator, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional (CEN), has published its expansion proposal for the national transmission network, which comprises of around 128 projects cumulatively valued at around USD717 million.

• Colombian UPME launches tender for grid-scale energy storage system [free access]

  January 25, 2021
  Colombian mining and energy planning unit, Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética (UPME), has launched a tender for establishing the country's first grid-scale, energy storage project under its efforts to reinforce power supply on the Caribbean coast.

• Chilean CEN calls for international tender for 27 transmission projects

  January 20, 2021
  The Chilean national electricity system coordinator, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional (CEN), has invited international bids for awarding 27 transmission projects cumulatively valued at more than USD160 million.

• Paraguay approves loan for 500 kV line project [free access]

  January 11, 2021
  The Paraguayan government announced its approval of a USD85 million loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for financing a part of the 500 kV Yguazú–Valenzuela Transmission System Expansion Project.

• Ecuador to invest USD241 million in improving SNT [free access]

  January 6, 2021
  Ecuador's state-owned power company, La Empresa Pública Estratégica Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP), will invest USD241.6 million in the construction of new transmission facilities, and reinforcement and repowering of the Sistema Nacional de Transmisión (SNT) or the national transmission system.

• Itaipu plans to extend funds for upgrading T&D network of Paraguay and Brazil

  January 6, 2021
  Itaipu Binacional, operator of the Itaipu hydro power project (HPP) on Paraná River at the Brazil–Paraguay border, plans to allocate USD400 million for the strengthening of the transmission and distribution (T&D) network for both countries.

• Chilean CEN publishes expected use of transmission system for next 20 years

  December 28, 2020
  Recently, the Chilean national electricity system coordinator, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional (CEN), published the analysis of the expected use of the transmission system for the 2021 Transmission Planning Process.

• Chilean Transelec seeks environmental approval for line project [free access]

  December 23, 2020
  Chilean power transmission company Transelec SA is seeking environmental approval from the country’s Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA) or Environmental Assessment Service, for establishing the Parinas–Monte Mina transmission line project in the Antofagasta region, valued at USD105 million.