ISA InterColombia nears completion of key renewables link

ISA InterColombia aims to begin operating the final section of its Fundación-Copey-Cuestecitas transmission line – considered key to Colombia's energy transition plans – in early 2025, company CEO Carlos Mario Caro told BNamericas. 

The first section of the project, from Fundación to Copey, is already in operation but the Copey-Cuestecitas segment has been delayed by socio-environmental challenges. 

"We’re talking about nine or 10 towers that have some problems with the property," Caro said in a telephone interview. 

"Specifically, we haven’t been able to contact some owners. And we’re currently entering with the military to be able to finish those towers. We hope to have that transmission line energized in about three months because the substations are already at a very advanced stage. In other words, the substations will be energized by February at the latest ... [and] we hope to start commercial operations by March 2025 at the latest."

When complete, the dual-circuit 500kV line will connect a raft of non-conventional renewable energy projects in northern Colombia to the national interconnected system (SIN).

Meanwhile, ISA InterColombia hopes to bring online its 297km, 500kV Sogamoso-La Loma transmission line by mid-2026, pending approval of an environmental permit. 

"We hope that [environmental licensing agency] ANLA responds soon," Caro said. And then we hope, if everything goes well, to start construction work very soon. In a year and a half we hope to have the project in commercial operation."

The first part of an interview with Caro can be seen here.