(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 31.Mar.2015) – Venezuela’s electric energy sector incurred investments of $444 million and 518 million Venezuelan bolivars in 2014 on three projects in Venezuela’s western region, the country’s electric energy minister Jesse Chacón said in Caracas on January 30, 2015 during an electric sector conference at Corpoelec’s headquarters.
In the western Region, $144 million and 180 million Venezuelan bolivars was spent on the Antonio José de Sucre Thermoelectric Plant in Cumaná. The plant will add 340 megawatts to Venezuela’s national electric system or SEN electric grid.
Additionally, $275 million was spent on the 230 kilowatt Chacopata-Margarita Sub-Marine cable that spans 40 kilometers. The cable has a 80 megawatt capacity.
Lastly, $25 million and 338 million Venezuelan bolivars and was spent on the 138 kilowatt La Vueltosa-Guasdualito transmission line that spans 148 kilometers.
PLANS FOR 2015
Venezuela’s electric energy sector will incur investments of $4,901 million and 4,295 million bolivars in 2015 on five large projects in the Andean and central regions of the country, said Chacón.
In the Andean region, $1.045 billion will be destined to the 170 megawatt closed cycle Luis Zambrano Plant in Meridá, while $529 million and 693 million Venezuelan bolivars will destined to the completion of the 257 megawatt Unit 3 of the Fabricio Ojeda project.
In the central region, $1,764 million and 2,922 million Venezuelan bolivars will destined to the 340 megawatt combined cycle India Urquia Plant. Another $99 million and 680 million Venezuelan bolivars will be destined to the completion of 400 megawatt Machine 5 of the Central Plant and $1,464 million will be destined to the construction and installation of the 600 megawatt Unit 6 of the Central Plant.
OTHER PROJECTS
Another $795 million and 5,604 million Venezuelan bolivars will be destined to other projects as follows:
In the Eastern Region: $50 million will be destined to the Machine 2 of the Termobarrancas Plant (170 megawatts) in Barinas; $90 million for the installation of two simple cycle machines (340 megawatts combined) at Termo Zulia V; $190 million and 1,606 million Venezuelan bolivars on the Cojedes robust plan; $126 million and 1,836 million on the Portuguesa robust plan; $136 million and 858 million Venezuelan bolivars will be destined to transmission projects in the southern part of Lake Maracaibo.
In the Southern Region: $162 million and 1,193 million Venezuelan bolivars will be destined to southern transmission projects; $41 million and 111 Venezuelan bolivars on modernization schemes for the 765 kilowatt protection lines; and no specific amounts on closing work on the Tocoma Dam.
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