More than $168 million has been invested by Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica, SA, (ETESA) between 2019 and 2022 for the development of various projects that include the adaptation and replacement of equipment in search of strengthening the interconnected electrical transmission system of the country.
The general manager of ETESA, Carlos Mosquera Castillo, indicated that, during 2022, the state electric company carried out important projects such as the replacement of transformers in the Mata de Nance, Progreso and Llano Sánchez substations, the installation of reactors in the Changuinola substations and Guasquita, as well as the implementation of STATCOM compensation systems in the Panama II and Llano Sánchez substations, which together exceeded B/. 78 million.
“ETESA’s main function is the transport of high-voltage electrical energy, we are responsible for the care of more than 3,000 km of lines and 4,500 high-voltage towers, along with the operation of 17 substations and 22 communication sites.” For this year 2023, they plan the entry into operation of projects whose investment reaches a total of B /. 139.8 million.
Regarding those flagship projects for the expansion of high-voltage electricity transmission capacity, such as the construction of the IV Line and the Panama-Colombia Interconnection, the ETESA manager added that progress has been made consistently with the satisfactory execution of critical stages. “In the IV Line, the environmental impact study is already being prepared and soon we will have the final technical report, which includes the feasibility report, the bidding documents and the PPP contract,” explained Eng. Mosquera.
