Taking place yesterday the third meeting of the cycle “Dialogue with the press”, promoted by Itaipu Binacional together with ANDE, the central focus of the meeting was centered on exposing the various advances started by both institutions and the plans and investments to be carried out in gradually.
Itaipu has planned investments for an estimated value of US $ 347 million in the framework of cooperation with ANDE, to strengthen the Paraguayan electricity sector. At this point, two agreements have already been signed: one for the acquisition of 2,000 transformers and modernization of the distribution lines (2018) and the other to strengthen the national electricity system interconnected to Itaipu (2021).
As part of its strategic axis, the hydroelectric plant aims to increase the electrical infrastructure necessary to provide all the energy that corresponds to Paraguay. Cooperation was requested from the Binational, taking into account that ANDE requires improvements in technology and infrastructure of the electrical networks.
With respect to the negotiation of “Annex C” of the Itaipu treaty, the president of the binational, Manuel Cáceres, stressed that the negotiations are still in place, but agreements are being glimpsed, in which Paraguay will always seek to maintain its position with respect to the convenient tariff prices for the country.
PLANS AND INVESTMENTS
On average, ANDE has executed US $ 50 million and this year alone it invested US $ 270 million in planned works, the final goal being the execution of US $ 300 million to continue with the maintenance of the institution’s objectives.
On the other hand, regarding the infrastructures developed by ANDE, investing US $ 100 million in two lots and with two transmission lines, there is the construction of the Iguazú Substation, with 500 kv and it is scheduled to enter into execution in December from 2022; this is the most important work of the ANDE.
The current capacity of the hydroelectric plant is 4,465 MW and with the entry into operation of the Iguazú work, the rebound in capacity to 8,895 MW is planned, constituting a very important advance to meet the demand in the next 10 years of the interconnected system nationwide, offering the possibility of raising capacity to 11,110 MW.
Then, with an investment of US $ 19 million, there is the construction and interconnection of the Santa Rita Substation, which represents another key work and would come into operation next year if things are developed in order or in 2023
Also, there is the Villa Elisa Substation, with an investment of US $ 8.2 million, which could already come into operation at the end of this year. It will make it possible to relieve several substations neighboring Villa Elisa.
DISTRIBUTION
Regarding ANDE’s main distribution projects, for the improvement of the electric power distribution system in the metropolitan area, changing bare conductors for more protected ones, an investment of US $ 274 million is estimated.
Phase 1 is already 71% completed, while phase 2 is still in a bidding process, this stage involves the interior of the country, with it already anticipating 80% of the bare conductors, fully protected .
On the other hand, a planned planning is focused on greater contracts, materials and self-help works, with an investment of US $ 586 million to be distributed in all the departments of the country in a period of three years.
All this always focused on gradually optimizing the country’s electricity system. In this sense, in 10 years we will seek to have a greater change in terms of distribution, not to mention the infrastructure, which will have an undeniable impact according to professional technicians.
These investments by Itaipu will enable the acquisition of a commercial management system and the adaptation of transmission and distribution infrastructures of ANDE, in order to guarantee the continuity, reliability and improvement of the service to users, with the aim of efficiently accompanying the increased demand in the Paraguayan electricity market, with significant economic and population growth.
