The volcanic mountain range of los Maribios could potentially generate more than the 1,500 megawatts for the country.
Studies by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) estimate that the volcanoes of the Los Maribios range, along the Pacific area, could give the country a generation potential of more than the 1,500 megawatts in 12 areas or geothermal fields, a capability that could liberate Nicaragua from dependence on oil as a source of electricity.
Studies by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) estimate that the volcanoes of the Los Maribios range, along the Pacific area, could give the country a generation potential of more than the 1,500 megawatts in 12 areas or geothermal fields, a capability that could liberate Nicaragua from dependence on oil as a source of electricity.
An example of the lack of exploitation of this renewable resource, is that there are only two projects operating in this region, according to an article in Laprensa.com.ni by Lucydalia Baca
One project is by the company Ormat, which has invested $45 million to upgrade a small production of 7 MW to the 28 MW it produces today and sells to the National Company for Electricity Transmission (Enatrel) at a cost of $64 dollars per megawatt, the lowest price in the domestic market, the concession expires in 2014.The other investment is in San Jacinto Tizate, which began with drilling by Russian companies in the eighties, then moved to a private consortium -San Jacinto Power- , however financial problems in 2002 forced the company to sell to Polaris, the which generates 10 MW with a small plant.
"This plant served as proof of concept that geothermal projects can be run in Nicaragua". said Jose Antonio Rodriguez, general manager of Polaris Geothermal Inc., a subsidiary in the country of Ram Power Corporation.
Polaris has a concession for 25 years and plans to invest over 400 million dollars in the installation of two generators of 36 megawatts each. "The first phase has already begun. We have been doing business since January. The second will come later this year", Rodriguez told Laprensa.com.ni.
