Colombia unveils five 'strategic' power grid projects

Colombia's mines and energy ministry revealed plans for five priority projects designed to expand and reinforce the national power grid. 

The developments – earmarked for the departments of Córdoba, Sucre, Atlántico, Cauca, Nariño, Boyacá and Casanare – have been added to a package of urgent works announced by ministry planning unit UPME in July. 

"The purpose... is to address system restrictions due to overloads and under-voltages associated with unmet demand," UPME said in a statement. 

"They will guarantee energy reliability in areas declared in critical condition by the system operator, XM." 

The entity did not immediately provide bidding timetables, nor did it establish deadlines for the completion of works. 

UPME head Adrián Correa said the projects were key to the government's electrification plans, particularly in under-privileged areas.

"These regions are strategic to guarantee the reliability and security of the electricity supply in Colombia, especially in light of the challenges of the energy transition and the growth in demand," Correa said. 

Here is a breakdown of each project, according to UPME:

1. Magangué expansion

Located in Córdoba and Sucre, the project entails a 500/115kV substation and associated power lines. It will serve the nodes of Sincé 110kV, Magangué 110kV, Mompox 110kV and El Banco 110kV.

"These works will substantially improve the reliability of [electricity supply] in the area, meeting the increase in demand and alleviating network restrictions by improving voltage levels," UPME said. 

2. Montería reinforcement

This project includes four stages, starting with the construction of a second line between the Nueva Montería and Río Sinú 110kV substations, reducing risks associated with operational problems in the Nueva Montería-Río Sinú circuit.

"The following stages will allow the load to be reduced on the Montería 230/110kV transformers, increasing reliability through the duplication of circuits and easing restrictions on the network due to lower voltages in the event of emergencies," UPME said. 

3. Northeast-Eastern interconnection 

The initiative involves connecting the Alcaraván 230kV substation with consumer areas to the east and reinforcing voltage profiles in the regional transmission system (STR). 

"This new 230kV corridor will mark the completion of the STN [national transmission system] ring, which is made up of the Chivor Chivor II - Aguaclara - Alcaraván - San Antonio and Sochagota 230kV substations," UPME said. 

4. Sabanalarga 220kV reconfiguration 

According to UPME, the works aim to reduce the short-circuit threshold, improve the operational reliability of the substation and pave the way for new connections in Atlántico department on the Caribbean coast. 

5. Olaya Herrera - Buchelly 115kV link, Jardinera - Junín - Tumaco 115kV reinforcement

Slated for the southwestern departments of Cauca and Nariño, the project seeks to guarantee electricity services to vulnerable areas in the Tumaco area on Colombia's Pacific coast. 

More information, in Spanish, can be seen here and here