• A regional LNG-to-Power platform on the Central American Atlantic coast, integrating Guatemala-Honduras, w/ expansion Belize & Caribbean.
• The strategy aims to capture opportunities arising from growing need for power generation: electricity demand growth ~ 9-12%/year.
• Regional Energy Matrix Transformation: Over the past decade, Central America and Caribbean have accelerated the deployment of solar. At the same time, the expansion of LNG export terminals along the U.S. Gulf Coast has increased regional natural gas availability. Creating a favorable environment for LNG-to-Power projects. As a result, the combination of natural gas and renewables is emerging as the dominant energy configuration across the region.
• LNG logistics integration optimization & shared infrastructure
• CAPEX & OPEX reduction through economies of scale
• Demand clustering (+2,5 GW): Readiness for PEG-6 (550 MW) & Private/Public PPAs in Guatemala + Participation in the ENEE (1,500 MW) in Honduras
….Why the Regional LNG Hub in the Atlantic?…
• Direct access to U.S. Gulf Coast LNG export terminals (sailing times of only 18–20 hours), • Reducing logistics costs, • Scalability and access to PPAs (+2,5 GW) • Fuel Cost ~ 75% of the Total Cost of Power Generation, while CAPEX represents approximately 15% and non-fuel OPEX approximately 10%: • Gas supplied to power projects located on the Atlantic Coast is typically indexed to Henry Hub, whereas Pacific Coast projects are generally indexed to Brent. As a result, Atlantic Coast projects benefit from a structural fuel cost advantage: USD 1.35–1.50/MMBtu (USD 9–10/MWh) <> USD 30–34 million (550 MW @ 70% capacity factor). • Avoiding transit through the Panama Canal reduces LNG shipping costs—including canal tolls, waiting time, vessel laytime, mandatory services, additional canal charges: USD 1.0–1.5/MMBtu (USD 7–10/MWh) <> USD 23–34 million (550 MW @ 70% capacity factor). • Locating power generation projects on the Atlantic Coast rather than the Pacific Coast: USD 53–64 million per year (USD 16–20/MWh). • The expansion of the Morales–Atlantic 230 kV transmission corridor, with an initial capacity exceeding 500 MW and scalability to 1 GW through a double-circuit configuration, including the new Atlantic 230/69 kV substation and approximately 47 km of transmission line.
…Transmission Advantage – Morales–Atlantic 230 kV Corridor…
Executed by TRECSA (Grupo Energía de Bogotá S.A. ESP and EDEMTEC S.A. de C.V., both holding international credit ratings of Fitch BBB- and Moody’s Baa3). Key infrastructure : • New Atlantic 230/69 kV substation • Morales–Atlantic 230 kV transmission line • Approximately 47 km in length • Associated upgrades to the Morales 230/69 kV substation The corridor has an initial transmission capability exceeding 500 MW, scalable to more than 1 GW, supporting the development of regional energy hub.