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Guatemala seeks 700 megawatts of gas for power in tender
LONDON, June 16 (Reuters) - Guatemala has launched a tender to contract 1500 megawatts (MW) of new electricity generation capacity to meet growing demand, with around 700 MW to be awarded to projects based on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
"Guatemala expects to contract at least 700 MW of firm power, in one or two facilities located in the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean or in the Pacific, which will receive LNG ships. This will satisfy the dynamic electricity demand of our country," said Victor Hugo Ventura, Guatemala's minister of energy and mines.
Speaking to Reuters during an interview on the sidelines of an industry conference in London, the minister said natural gas would be one of the drivers of economies of Central American countries.
"We are sure that we can get very bigger efficiency in the process with natural gas. We consider the natural gas as a very important part of the transition to the low emissions economy."
The tender is closing in November and is open for companies worldwide.
Guatemala is among the 10 to 20 countries most affected by climate change. It is home to a region known as the Central American Dry Corridor, where, over the past decade, droughts have been more prolonged and severe and extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, have caused widespread damage.
Several hurricanes have caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including power plants, transmission lines and distribution networks.
Guatemala has implemented an energy transition strategy that has allowed it to produce between 55% and 70% of its energy from renewable sources.
There is a significant impact in the case of dry years with insufficient rainfall. For this reason, this tender seeks the contracting of firm energy, to produce 365 days a year and with lower emissions, and "this can only be achieved with fuels such as natural gas," the minister said.
