Panama moves to solve energy crisis

PANAMA’S government announced Monday, a comprehensive energy plan in the short and medium term to address the energy crisis that could occur due to the El Niño in 2015.
“What we have to do is quickly activate all the mechanisms to deal with this situation properly,” said National Secretary of Energy, Victor Urrutia. 

Urrutia explained that there is a delay in the construction of the transmission system that impedes the transfer of energy from the areas where the main production sectors to consumers so you have to take action. As the country’s electricity demand is growing at rates from 4.8% to 7.4% a year, it is necessary th ability to generate power is increased he said.
For short-term measures a public tender will be convened in the next few day for the purchase of thermal energy in the Central American market as the National Dispatch Center has presented the electrical system requirements as needing reinforcement of between 250 and 300 megawatts report the Efe news agency 
He said that long-term procurement deals that “comply with national reality” and with contractors who can cope with the energy demand are scheduled.
He added that the government will convene in 2015 a tender for the construction of the fourth transmission line, which will strengthen the third, the project is already mapped.
Meanwhile, the general manager of the State Electricity Transmission Company (ETESA), Ivan Barria, said tenders to be undertaken will seek to meet the energy demand for the next three years (2015-2017).