In the short term, perhaps the most important task that the new Minister of Mines and Energy, Andrés Camacho, will have will be prevent the Caribbean region and the department of Choco from turning off.
A few days ago, XM detected that these areas require urgent attention because there is a depletion in the transmission networksthat is, they are not able to transport all the electricity that is being consumed.
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Destroying transmission projects is key
and create new generation capacity
Therefore, it is a priority commission additional transmission and distribution lines and define new equipment that strengthens the network so that the National Interconnected System (SIN) is more resistant because, otherwise, power cuts could be necessary in some areas of the country during peak consumption.
However, the current situation is not very encouraging, since of the expansion works awarded by the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (Upme) that are currently underway, 68 percent correspond to projects in the Caribbean region, which delays to date range from one to four years.
Against this background, the Andeg Executive Director, Alejandro CastañedaHe assures that it is key to unlock transmission projects and create new generation capacity because after 2025 it is likely that energy deficits will arise.
And in order to have new generation capacity, the successful completion of the Reliability Charge auctionwhich is scheduled for November 14, is of vital importance.
(Also read: The scandals of Irene Vélez in the 11 months that she was Minister of Mines).
Omar Andres Camacho Morales.
University of the Andes
Materialize the commissioning of wind and solar projects
In this auction it is expected to ensure the energy that is needed to fill the deficit that has been identified for 2027–2028. If it is not successful and if electricity consumption is 3 percent higher than Upme’s latest projection (2,055 GWh/year) for these years, rationing could cost Colombia 1.32 trillion pesos.
Additionally, the president of Ser Colombia, Alexandra Hernández, points out that another great challenge that Camacho will have will be materialize the commissioning of wind and solar projectssince they are several years behind due to paperwork and other circumstances.
the union calculates that between 2023 and 2024, 3,330 megawatts should come into operation of new capacity. However, 89 percent of this new capacity registers delays in its construction.
In addition to the Reliability Charge auction, according to Hernández, long-term contracting mechanisms should be promoted so that Non-conventional renewable energy projects may have their financial closure in the future.
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This is added to the need to have legal stability in the sector and review the tax framework, which was changed with the tax reform and the National Development Plan (PND) and is hindering the financial viability of wind and solar farms.
The risks of possible power outages are not only latent in the Caribbean and Chocó; in the medium term, the situation of the eastern area, which includes Bogotá, Cundinamarca and Metaraises the need for actions in the execution and structuring of transmission projects, due to the growth in demand in the North and West of the Sabana de Bogotá and the delay of strategic projects such as the North substation, the Virginia-Nueva Esperanza reinforcement and transformers two and three of Nueva Esperanza.
This situation shows that for the period 2025-2026 this area of the country may not have the necessary network infrastructure to reliably and safely meet the energy consumption of Colombians.
ECONOMY
