Central America power roundup

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (Cabei) and Austrian development lender OeEB signed a loan agreement for up to US$30mn to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The financing package, which also will support efforts to combat climate change, is the third such deal signed between the banks, the first of which was inked in 2008 for 15mn euros to finance private sector projects and a second in 2013 for renewable energy projects.

Cabei also signed a cooperation agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development to promote economic and social development in the region.

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Siemens reported that it received its first order in Panama for six SGT-800 gas turbines from Shanghai Electric Group which is building the Gas to Power Panama project for Martano due online in 2020. The units along with a steam turbine will provide about 440MW, said Siemens.

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Honduras' congress approved the creation of special commission that will have 30 days to investigate complaints filed for alleged over-billing by power distributor Empresa Energía Honduras, which last week presented a package of measures to the government to address billing "irregularities."

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Costa Rica's state power company ICE announced that it has extended the intervention of the 360MW Reventazón hydro plant to guarantee the correct operation of works following the completion of a plan underway since August.

ICE said that after reducing the level of the reservoir, the length of the crack that filtered water into the rock wall under the spillway requires additional treatment.

The start of the reservoir's filling is now expected to begin the last week of May and depending on hydrological conditions, the plant is due to resume operations in June, according to the company, which highlighted that power supply has not been impacted due to backup thermo generation.