Data Insights: Latin America's US$27bn gas-to-power project portfolio

Energy developers in Latin America and the Caribbean are planning investments in gas-fired power projects totaling more than US$27bn, according to BNamericas data. 

The portfolio includes 97 projects in the early-works stage with expected capital expenditure of just over US$14bn and 55 projects under construction worth US$13.25bn.

The database shows that there are currently 162 gas-fired plants in operation in the region following investments of US$49.4bn. 

Brazil has the largest share of projects, including those that are in operation, with 105, followed by Mexico (69), Colombia (26), Chile (22) and Argentina (21). 

Mexican state power company CFE has the biggest portfolio with 18 developments while Brazil's Eneva and Venezuela's Corpoelec – with nine each – are next on the list. 

According to BNamericas' Forecast tool, eight projects are expected to progress to another stage this quarter while another three are seen advancing in the third quarter. 

The tool predicts 11 stage changes in the fourth quarter and an additional 11 in the first quarter of 2025. 

The largest gas-to-power project in BNamericas' database, by capex, is the 1,900MW Doroteo Arango plant under development by China's CCOEC in Mexico, which is budgeted at US$2.31bn. 

It is followed by the Dominican Republic's US$1.75bn, 840MW Manzanillo combined cycle plant, a joint venture between Shell and Energía de las Americas; Generadora Gatún's likewise-named US$1.20bn, 670MW project in Panama; and Siemens' US$1.13bn 1,672MW Porto do Açu III plant in Brazil. 

Next are four Brazilian projects: Omega Energía's Lins plant (US$1.10bn, 2,050MW), Ceiba Energy's Portocem LNG-to-power development (US$940mn, 1,571MW), Eneva and BP's Nossa Senhora de Fatima plant (US$903mn, 1,355MW) and the first stage of the Piratininga project under development by São Paulo energy and water company Emae (US$847mn, 1,737MW).

Details of the 152 gas-to-power projects in BNamericas' database can be seen by clicking on the link in the top-right corner of the screen. 

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