Environmental license granted for Ecuador-Peru electrical interconnection project

The Electric Corporation of Ecuador (Celec EP) reported this Friday that it obtained the environmental license issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) for the project Electrical Interconnection Ecuador-Peru at 500,000 volts, which will allow regional energy integration.

Obtaining the environmental license is a milestone in the development of the project, since it is an enabling document for its execution, Celec said.

He noted that it is also a requirement to obtain financing, through the multilateral organizations that will grant the credits, which will allow the construction of the project.

The work requires an investment of US$289 million, of which the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will grant US$125 million and the European Investment Bank (EIB) another US$125 million.

The difference will be managed with CELEC EP’s own resources, indicated the Corporation.

Technical data

The Ecuador-Peru Electrical Interconnection, at 500,000 volts, will allow energy exchanges between the two countries, take advantage of hydrological complementarity, contribute to greater security of electrical energy supply, and generate economic benefits for the Ecuadorian electrical sector, Celec noted.

This extra high voltage system, which will cross the provinces of Guayas and El Oro, includes the development of the following works in four phases: Transmission line (Chorrillos-Pasaje 500,000 volts), 207 kilometers long.

In addition, expansion of the Chorrillos substation, 500,000 volt line bay; new electrical substation in Pasaje (El Oro), 500/230 thousand volts with a capacity of 600 MVA, and the Pasaje-Frontera transmission line, 500 thousand volts, 77 kilometers long.

regional interconnection

The construction of this system will generate direct and indirect employment in Ecuador, with more than a thousand jobs, which will reactivate the economy in the areas of influence of the development of the works, Celec said.

Its entry into operation will displace thermal generation with subsidized fuels, thereby reducing carbon emissions.

Additionally, its development will allow Regional Energy Integration in South America, promoting the establishment of a subregional electricity market, in accordance with the Andean Community regulation, which seeks to facilitate electricity exchanges in the region, Celec recalled.

Source: EFE