Latin America News

Latest news and developments from Latin America region

• 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.

• Neoenergia completes expansion works for Narandiba substation in Brazil

  December 21, 2020
  Spain's Iberdrola, through its Brazilian subsidiary Neoenergia, has completed the expansion of the Narandiba substation in Salvador, in the Brazilian state of Bahia.

• Brazilian ANEEL awards transmission concessions [free access]

  December 17, 2020
  Brazilian energy regulator, Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL), on December 17, awarded concessions under its transmission auction (Nº 1/2020), which auctioned 1,958 km of transmission lines and 6,420 MVA of transformer capacity distributed in 11 lots across nine Brazilian states. It has been reported that 51 companies participated in the auction, of which 14 were foreign companies.

• ISA to invest USD2.2 billion in Chilean transmission assets

  December 14, 2020
  Colombian power company Interconexión Eléctrica's (ISA), via its subsidiary ISA Interchile, has plans to invest USD2.2 billion in the Chilean’s power transmission sector.

• Chilean CEN conducts roadshow for bidding process for Kimal–Lo Aguirre project

  December 11, 2020
  Recently, the Chilean national electricity system, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional (CEN), conducted a roadshow for the international bidding process for the Kimal–Lo Aguirre high voltage direct current (HVDC) project.

• Peruvian ProInversión awards concession for 220 kV substation projects to ISA ESP

  December 10, 2020
  As per news reports, Peru's investment promotion agency ProInversión has awarded Colombian Interconexión Eléctrica (ISA ESP) the concessions worth USD18.4 million for the 220/60 kV Chincha Nueva and Nazca Nueva substations, which will guarantee electricity supply to the populations of Chincha and Nazca.

• Paraguayan ANDE awards USD37 million worth transmission contracts

  December 8, 2020
  Paraguay’s state-owned power company, Administración Nacional de Electricidad (ANDE), has awarded transmission contracts worth USD37 million.

• Colombian ISA acquires Brazilian PBTE for USD300 million

  December 3, 2020
  Recently, Colombian power company Interconexión Eléctrica's (ISA) Brazilian subsidiary, ISA Companhia de Transmissao de Energia Eletrica Paulista (CTEEP), agreed to purchase the Brazilian transmission company — Piratininga–Bandeirantes Transmissora de Energia (PBTE) for USD300 million.

• ANDE begins construction of Yguazú substation project in Paraguay

  December 2, 2020
  Paraguay’s state-owned power company, Administración Nacional de Electricidad (ANDE), has initiated works on the USD102.8 million worth 500 kV Yguazú substation and interconnection project.

• Panama’s ETESA to reactivate social and environmental evaluation of Fourth Line Project

  December 1, 2020
  Recently, Panama’s state-owned electricity transmission company, Empresa de Transmision Electrica (ETESA), and other associations involved in the development of the social and environmental studies of the Fourth Line project, have decided to reactivate the study process.

• Chile’s CEN releases technical documents to potential bidders for HVDC project

  November 25, 2020
  As per the latest update available, the Chilean national electricity system, Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional (CEN), has given access to interested parties to the preliminary technical documents for the Kimal–Lo Aguirre high voltage direct current (HVDC) project.

• Brazil’s ANEEL seeks public consultations for transmission auction [free access]

  November 24, 2020
  Brazil’s energy regulator, Agencia Nacional de Energia Eletrica (ANEEL), has initiated a public consultation for receiving suggestions for the Transmission Auction (nº 1/2021) scheduled for June 2021, which will auction 524 km of transmission lines and 2,570 MVA of transformer capacity valued at BRL1.02 billion. The public consultations will be received between November 25, 2020 and January 8, 2021.

• CELEC EP awards contract for Ecuadorian portion of 500 kV Ecuador–Peru project

  November 16, 2020
  Ecuador's state-owned power company, La Empresa Pública Estratégica Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP), has selected Chinese Changjiang Institute of Survey Planning Design and Research for providing design consultancy services for the Ecuadorian section of the 500 kV Peru–Ecuador Interconnection project.

• Brazil’s ANEEL gives final approval for BRL7.4 billion December 2020 auction

  November 11, 2020
  Brazil’s energy regulator, Agencia Nacional de Energia Eletrica (ANEEL), has given the final approval for the transmission auction (nº 1/2020) set to take place on December 17, 2020, with an expected investment of BRL7.4 billion. During this, it will auction 1,958 km of transmission lines and 6,420 MVA of transformer capacity across nine Brazilian states via 11 lots.

• Paraguayan ANDE signs USD250 million loan agreement with CAF [free access]

  November 11, 2020
  Recently, Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF), or the Development Bank of Latin America has lent USD250 million to Paraguay’s state-owned power company, Administración Nacional de Electricidad (ANDE), for implementation of the Programa de Mejoramiento del Sistema de Transmisión y de Distribución de Electricidad y de Modernización de la Gestión de la Distribución or the Programme for the Improvement of the Electricity Transmission and Distribution System and Modernisation of the Distribution Network.

• Spanish Abengoa bags 500 kV line project in Chile

  November 4, 2020
  Spanish multinational corporation, Abengoa, has bagged a contract from the Transmisora del Pacífico, a unit of Chilean power transmission company Transelec SA, for the execution of the Nueva Puerto Montt–Nueva Ancud transmission line project.