Colon gets region’s first natural gas plant

THE FIRST he first natural gas-based power generation plant in Central America, developed by AES Colón was inaugurated on Friday, August  17, 28  months after the project began.

It consists of two stages, the plant and a natural gas storage plant which is 87% complete and expected to come into operation in 2019.

President Juan Carlos Varela said that the plant will help the Panamanian economy, and will reduce the use of petroleum derivatives in the production of electricity for the country and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The president at the opening ceremony of the new AES plant announced a reform of the law of Colon.

He stressed that the government is developing a plan to expand the energy matrix, which includes the use of natural gas in the generation of electricity.

The power plant will result in the reduction of the greenhouse effect, with zero emission of sulfur oxides and solid particles. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 60% and nitrogen oxides by more than 80%