Central America, Caribbean power watch

Wärtsilä signed an operation and maintenance agreement with Energía del Pacífico for the latter’s 378MW natural gas-fired power project in El Salvador that will boast 19 Wärtsilä engines and a steam turbine.

“The 15-year agreement was signed in Q4 2019 and will take effect when the plant commences operations at the end of 2021,” Wärtsilä said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the environment and climate change committee of the country’s legislative assembly approved eight articles of a draft bill for a general water law related to the proposed framework’s application, declaration of public utility and general principals, among other aspects.

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Guatemala plans to establish a second power interconnection with Mexico and a new link with Belize, according to Guatemala’s energy and mines minister Alberto Pimentel Mata.

The official made the comment during an event organized by local development foundation Fundesa where Pimentel also said that the rural electrification policy is under review, as an estimated 1.8mn residents lack power supply.

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The population, environment and development committee of Panama’s national assembly backed a draft bill to promote the use of renewable energies in the public sector.

The initiative also would establish a clean energy program within the housing ministry that would help cover the cost and installation of residential renewable energy systems.

Another draft bill endorsed by the committee would create an administrative environmental court to help reduce the workload of the environment ministry.

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And the US Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is soliciting proposals for a renewable energy project management contract.