Generadora Gatún Begins Natural Gas Operations in Panama
Gatún Generator, a $1.2 billion gas-based project located in the Caribbean of Panama, began commercial operations with the delivery of 440 megawatts to the electrical system and the expectation of not only promoting a reduction in domestic rates in the medium and long term but also of exporting energy to the region.
Source: EFE
The Gatún Generator project, run by Grupo Energético Gas Panamá, made up of InterEnergy Group (51%) and AES Panamá (49%), was built in 36 months in the Telfers Island sector of the province of Colón, adjacent to the Panamanian capital. Its production capacity is 670 megawatts (MW) using natural gas as a source.
“Starting on October 1, we began delivering to the Panamanian electrical system, to the National Dispatch Center (…) around 440 MW” produced by two natural gas turbines, the general manager of the plant, Esteban Barrientos, explained to EFE on Wednesday.
A third turbine, steam-powered and with a capacity to produce 230 MW, is practically finished and is only awaiting the completion of a transmission line of the state-owned Electric Transmission Company (ETESA) to carry out the corresponding tests, something that is expected to occur “in mid-October or early November” next year.
By that time, “we should already have the capacity of that line (electric transmission line) available and therefore perform the full load tests of the plant and thus deliver the complete plant, which is 670 megawatts, to the system,” declared Barrientos.
Barrientos stressed that the entry into service of this plant provides “sustainability, efficiency and a lot of reliability” to the Panamanian electrical system, which has been suffering for many years from supply problems that generate constant complaints from users, who also have to bear high rates.
“A natural gas plant of the size” of the Gatún Generator “generates a lot of reliability for the Panamanian system, among other things because being natural gas we can generate at any time of the year,” regardless of the climatic conditions that can affect the production of energy from water sources, said the executive.
But in addition, he pointed out, there is a 20-year contract with local distributors Ensa and Naturgy, who will receive energy “at competitive prices,” which will impact the secondary market and “therefore, in the medium and long term it should represent a reduction in the rate for the whole world,” he added.
Given the production capacity of the plant, Barriento responded to EFE that “surely” “energy will be exported” in the future to countries in the region.
“Undoubtedly, we will always give priority to local demand, to internal demand. But taking into account the capacity of the plant, we will also be available, with the capacity to export, not only us, but the country in general. And Panama will possibly become more of an exporting country than an importer, and there we will depend on the capacity of the regional transmission line,” he said.