The National Government has initiated three additional processes to incorporate another 178 new thermal MW into the country's service

The following is a machine translation of a Celec release

The National Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines – MEM and the Electric Corporation of Ecuador – CELEC EP, initiated three new processes for the acquisition of two new thermal generation plants that will be incorporated into the National Interconnected System – SIN and the expansion of an existing one.

This is a 135 MW (megawatt) thermoelectric plant in the Pascuales sector (Guayaquil), another 28 MW plant in Santa Elena, a province of the same name, and the addition of 15 MW to the current Santa Elena II plant.

The new Pascuales power plant will be dual, meaning it will operate with generation units that run on gas or diesel. Its electrical production will be incorporated into the SNI through the Chorrillos Substation. Last Tuesday, CELEC EP published the process on the Public Procurement Service – SERCOP portal, which begins with the reception of proposals for the acquisition of these new facilities.

According to the publication, interested companies have until Monday, September 30 to submit their proposals. The Technical Commission will immediately conduct an analysis of the deadline, price and adherence to the technical criteria established in the terms of reference (TOR) and will select the most suitable proposal for the country.

The selected supplier will then receive the forms, issue internal documents for the award, and proceed with the award to the proposal that best suits the country. The process can be accessed at the following link: https://acortar.link/RJrVHu

Meanwhile, the new Santa Elena IV power plant, with 28 MW, will operate with HF04 fuel and is of national production. The energy from this plant will be incorporated into the SNI through the Santa Elena substation. Interested companies have until this Saturday, September 28, to submit their proposals. The process can be accessed at the following link: https://acortar.link/RJrVHu

Additionally, yesterday the process for contracting an additional 15 MW for the current Santa Elena II Power Plant, which has been operating since 2011, with a nominal power of 90 MW, began. With this acquisition, these facilities will increase to 105 MW. This plant operates with HFO4 fuel. Interested companies can submit their quotes until next Monday, September 30, 2024. The process can be accessed here: https://acortar.link/KoRS8d

The contracting of these new generation equipment will be carried out through emergency processes. To this end, the General Management of CELEC EP declared this Strategic Public Company in a state of emergency and authorized the necessary contracts to be made.

The two new plants and the expansion of an existing one are part of the second block of emerging generation, which will add up to 800 additional MW to the SNI. These actions are being carried out by the Government of President Daniel Noboa to address the energy crisis, as a consequence of a hydrological crisis, marked by a strong low water level in the main water basins that feed the hydroelectric generation plants.