Panama issues power supply call, proposes regulatory tweak

Panama’s state power transmission company Etesa has launched bidding to procure firm capacity and energy to help cover demand in the short and medium term.

The contracts will run from March 1, 2023 to February 28, 2026 and the winners will supply Empresa de Distribución Eléctrica Metro-Oeste (Edemet), Empresa de Distribución Eléctrica Chiriquí (Edechi) and Elektra Noreste (ENSA).

Participation for firm capacity is open to thermoelectric generators, while the energy component is open to renewable power producers (hydro, solar and wind).

A clarification meeting will be held on November 22 and offers are due on December 15, according to procurement information.

BNamericas previously reported that the energy department had recommended the launch of the process as minimum contracting levels had not been reached in the last call, coupled with growing demand.

Source: Panama's expansion plan for the national interconnected system (PESIN)

Source: PESIN

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For its part, public services regulator Asep has begun consultation to amend the regulation related to the distribution and commercialization of electricity.

The watchdog will accept comments on the proposed modifications, available here in Spanish, through November 25, and a public hearing will be held on November 29.