2024 is crucial for the Panama-Colombia interconnection

He exchange of electricity in the region continues interrupted by the lack of the last link in this chain, electrical interconnection between Panama and Colombia.

Recently, general manager of Empresa de Transmission Eléctrica, SA, (Etesa), Carlos Mosquera Castillo, he shared an assessment of the progress of the binational electricity interconnection project between 2022 and 2023, which he assures that both countries are firmly committed to.

The project, whose first concrete contacts between the two countries took place in mid-2004, is in the feasibility phase with technical and environmental studies nearing completion.

Etesa’s work plan for 2022-2023. which is underway reveals 100% execution of previous engineering or pre-design studies, which included the definition of the ecological corridor, the basic design of the lines, the design of the HVDC station and the specification of the marine cable.

As for the detailed design study, the environmental study project for Colombia is 90% advanced and has been approved by Panama, however, they are facing major complaints from the communities affected by the project, such as Wargandí and Guna Yala regionsMosquera explained.

Currently, the inter-institutional commission is working to resolve the requests of the high regional authorities and they hope to reach agreements before the first quarter of 2024.

For the period 2020-2023. the field design (linear) has been developed in Panama at an average of 95% and 75% in Colombia, while the marine inspection (cable) is 100% complete.’

500

km distance is thinking about traveling by electric interconnection Panama – Colombia.

400

MW of installed capacity with a voltage of 30 KV, points out ETESA, SA

The plan was that the binational project of electrical interconnection Panama – Colombia It will be published next year, explained the director of Etese.

The expected results for 2024 – 2026 range from the procurement of goods and services, the commissioning of converting stations, and construction and assembly.

At the moment, the regulatory National Authority for Public Services (ASEP) of Panama and the Electronic Central Commission for the Regulation of Energy and Gas (CREG) of Colombia are working on a regulatory harmonization scheme.

Within a Return technical cooperation with IDB Invest, Colombia Panama Interconnection Company (ICP) started working on a financial analysis with the support of an investment bank in order to define a financial structure that enables the closure and subsequent development of the interconnection, Etesa described in detail.

The electrical interconnection of Panama with Colombia continues to generate great expectations as it would enable the optimization of available resources as a means to ensure greater inclusion of renewable sources and guarantee the energy security of the region.

Mosquera believes that its feasibility and performance will be the basis for expanding and deepening the process of energy cooperation and integration in the region.

The project will cost more than 500 million dollars and there is great regional interest in its development, Mosquera insisted.

Regional market
The regional market is more than 40 years old and it is always better to work interconnected than isolated, technically or commercially, warns the director of the National Dispatch Center (CND), Víctor González.

In 2010, the Guatemala – Mexico interconnection was closed, and the only missing link in America is Panama – Colombia. Canada is interconnected with the United States, the United States with Mexico, Mexico with Guatemala, six countries with the exception of Colombia, Colombia with Venezuela, Venezuela with Ecuador, etc., González indicated.