Inde to launch Xalalá, Serchil tenders this year

Guatemala's state power company Inde plans to launch international tenders this year to carry out studies for the Xalalá and Serchil hydro projects, an Inde hydroelectric projects promotion official told BNamericas. Xalalá's capacity would reach 181MW and Serchil 135MW, the official said. The complementary studies will cover technical, social and environmental details, which will be used to complete the projects' feasibility work, the official added. Xalalá would be built in Baja Verapaz department and Serchil in Quiché department, with both on the Chixoy river. Inde plans international EPC tenders for the projects if they move forward. Guatemala needs to add roughly 125MW of installed capacity a year through 2020, when the country's power demand is set to reach 3,125MW. The government is looking to tap hydroelectric potential in an effort to mitigate the cost of rising fuel prices on thermo generation. SMALL-SCALE HYDRO PROJECTS Regarding feasibility studies for 11 small-scale hydro projects, the official said the agriculture ministry has yet to launch bidding. The process could begin by month-end. The projects would range from 200kW-3MW and require US$20mn in total.