Rain Boosts Hydro Generation -- Ecuador

Ecuador -- Recent heavy rains have increased Ecuador's hydro generation and enabled the country's grid operator Cenace to start exporting power to Colombia through the 250kV power interconnection linking the two countries, Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio reported.

Cenace exported 80MW/h on Monday, which represents earnings of US$21,600 for local generators with Colombian distributors paying Ecuadorian generators US$0.03 - 0.032/kWh.

The line, which has been operating since March 1, was previously only exporting power from Colombia to Ecuador. The interconnection supplied 13% of Ecuador's national electricity demand in March.

Prices in Ecuador have fallen by 26% since the line started operating on March 1, which represents a saving of US$26.8mn for local distributors in the first month.

For now, Ecuador is only exporting power to Colombia during periods of low domestic demand, but that could change in 10-15 days once line adjustments are completed in the Totoras and Santa Rosa sectors and Ecuador's export capacity increases from 80MW/h to 150MW/h.

Ecuador's major hydro generators are the 1,075MW Paute plant, the 150MW Agoyan plant and the 70MW Pisayambo plant. - (BNamericas.com)

AP