Concerns mount over Enel Colombia wind project

Enel Colombia could be forced to abandon its 205MW Windpeshi wind project in northern Colombia because of political and social risk concerns, a former official has warned. 

Community protests and roadblocks in the municipalities of Uribia and Maicao, La Guajira department, have left the project running two years behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget. 

"[Enel] would have plenty of reasons [to leave]," former Uribia mayor Marcelino Gómez was quoted as saying by newspaper El Tiempo. "Legal instability and the series of protests that have taken place in the area are destabilizing the electricity generation business."

Windpeshi is one of Colombia's largest renewable energy projects and consists of 45 wind turbines covering around 6,145ha. The complex will be connected to the national transmission network via underground lines, a step-up substation and a high-voltage link to the Cuestecitas substation. 

Last week, Enel said it was considering "all possible options" for the project because of ongoing blockades that have prevented construction work for a total of 70 days this year.