Private domestic and foreign offshore operators who are interested in the supply of thermal energy will be able to submit their proposals for participation in the public tender announced on December 16 this year by the Ministry of Energy and Mining. This is one of the solutions to deal with the energy crisis, due to the dry season and low reserves in hydropower reservoirs, which caused power outages across the country since last October 27.

The power outage will only be three days for Christmas and three days for New Year’s Eve, but from December 15 until three o’clock

The invitation is directed to these companies to present their “proposals for the supply of electricity through mobile thermal generation at sea, with plants using heavy diesel of the type “HF04 or HF06 with a view to an operating time of 18 months”, at the following points available on the National Transmission System :

The state portfolio indicated that interested companies must submit data that allows them to verify the ability to supply electricity under the above conditions. The Ministry will receive proposals in written form.

This option of buying energy from offshore companies was one of the new solutions to this energy crisis presented by the executive this week. “Given that the shortfall is 465 MW, the offshore energy procurement process takes place through a call for expressions of interest. This acquisition will be carried out by Celec”, the Government announced.

Colombia has committed to supplying Ecuador with electricity until April 2024

In addition, Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo traveled to Colombia this week where she and her counterpart Andrés Camacho signed an Agreement on the expansion of energy sources from the neighboring country, in order to reduce the costs of commercialization of electricity.

At the meeting, a resolution approved by the Ministry of Mining and Energy of Colombia on December 5 was ratified, which allows the neighboring country to expand resources for the production of electricity, no longer only through liquids (diesel and fuel oil). , but now Ecuador will also be able to import electricity produced with natural gas.

Selling centralized thermal energy from Colombia would reduce import costs, but not by much

This alternative will reduce the costs of the binational transaction, as it is a less polluting and more economical derivative. Minister Camacho committed that Colombia will supply Ecuador with electricity until April 2024, as long as its hydrological reserves allow, while Minister Arrobo enabled the creation of working groups involving the energy regulatory authorities and electricity operators of both countries to establish binational mechanisms cooperation, in case of going through dry situations that complicate the production of electricity.

As of December 14, the supply of the country’s electricity demand with water production corresponds to 64.43%, given that the state of the reservoirs and flows supplying the Mazar, Pauta and Sopladora plants have not yet reached their optimal capacity due to low water

Hydroelectric power production is detailed below:

It should be noted that water production in the rainy season covers 82% of the national demand.

In the meantime, the State Portfolio started a savings campaign and started implementing measures in the institutions that make up the public sector to reduce electricity demand between 2% to 3%. Citizens are urged to use energy efficiently and responsibly during the holiday season.