Central America power watch

Nicaragua's state power transmission company Enatrel put into operation the San Benito substation (pictured) in the municipality of Tipitapa, Managua department that will benefit 60,869 residents as well as companies.

IDB helped finance the US$21.2mn project that included a 42km, 230kV line between San Benito and the Masaya substation.

Over the past few weeks, Enatrel has brought online the Chinandega (US$6.42mn), El Sauce (US$11.6mn), Ocotal (US$14mn) and Matiguás (US$3.62mn) substations.

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Panama's national assembly approved in a third and final debate a bill to improve the effectiveness of public services regulator Asep's control over power distribution companies related to customer service, in particular electronic equipment losses during spikes and blackouts. The proposed legislation has been sent to the executive.

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Honduras' state power company Enee launched an international tender to install and put into operation a commercial measurement system for its own generation plants. Offers for the six month, IDB-financed contract are due on January 10, according to bidding rules.

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Guatemala's energy and mines ministry pledged to advance efforts to introduce electric vehicles (EV) as part of the country's push to combat climate change and mitigate the impact of greenhouse gases.

To advance on this front, market players must be identified and determine the role of public institutions, as well as prepare institutional roadmaps and ink cooperation agreements between ministries to establish workgroups, the ministry said in a statement following an EV workshop.

The ministry highlighted that last year, the transport sector's energy consumption grew 75% compared with 2005-08.