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La Republica
To approve the opening, the next government will have to have the support of at least five of the 12 lawmakers undecided
Twelve deputies decide electric opening
Carlos Mora/
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/ April 29,2010
In addition to the support of 24 deputies liberationists, the president-elect in the Libertarian Movement found an ally to boost plan
Citizen Action and the Frente Amplio claim conflicts with the eventual liberalization from next year until 2016, Costa Rica will begin operating at least 14 more power plants to supply its energy demand, so the market opening electricity will be one of the priorities of Laura Chinchilla, president-elect of the Republic.
The law proposes not only to increase power generation but also to reduce the country's dependence of the thermal springs, which produce high volumes of pollutants, especially carbon dioxide.
Less than two weeks to start their management, the next president and the fraction of the National Liberation Party (PLN) has initiated dialogue with the opposition in an effort to clear the way for the project in Congress, where he went last week.
12 Members will define whether this energy plan is approved or not in Congress, including the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Accessibility without Exclusion (PASE), Costa Rican National Restoration and Renovation.
The challenge for the PLN will recruit among them a minimum of five votes.
So far the plan has a favorable environment, but not entirely convincing, since it is backed by 33 of the 57 new members, the 24 members of the PLN and the nine of the Libertarian Movement (ML).
This ensures that the opening of this sector would require the backing of 38 deputies, as to be in between services and resources in state hands stipulated in the Constitution requires the approval of two thirds of Congress.
The officers, as advocates, categorize the project as the "most important for the country in the coming years", believing that there is a lack of investment in electricity generation could be solved with this plan, as said Francisco Chacon, legislator elected by San Jose.
For its part, the 11 lawmakers next Citizen Action (PAC) and José María Villalta, Frente Amplio (FA), are against the plan, as they say, would raise the prices that affect the poorest sectors the country.
The General Electricity Law which provides for openness and competition in this sector, would allow any public or private company to produce electricity with renewable sources without being subject to the limitations of current legislation. Similarly, it opens the possibility of the generation companies sell their surplus power to the regional market.
The opening would increase from 2400-4018 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity in the country. A study by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), said that the contribution of new plants will cope with the rising electricity demand and reduce the risk of blackouts. Today, the electricity consumption of households, industries, businesses and institutions demand 1624 MW.
The country currently lacks a legal framework to open this market and only perform actions in this area through temporary concessions with private generators to contribute to energy supply.
The eventual opening of the electricity market appeals to companies linked to such activity. For employers involved in the market, the opening would be of great value to convert to Costa Rica is an example of clean production of electricity.
Once the next Members initiate debate on the law given the text is probably a special commission. |
Costa Rica Electricity Market News