Guatemala Urged to Accelerate Power Grid Expansion Amidst Energy Transformation

Guatemala's electricity transmission network is critically underdeveloped, posing a significant barrier to the country's energy future. Experts warn that without urgent expansion and modernization, the grid will struggle to meet demand and integrate new energy technologies.

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for 2045, in around 20 years, the country will need to double its electricity transmission network, which will imply developing around 5 thousand additional kilometers and more than 200 substations.

David Cabrera Palomo, president of AGTE, stated that by 2045, Guatemala will need to double its transmission grid, adding approximately 5,000 kilometers of lines and over 200 substations. This ambitious expansion requires an estimated investment of $2.5 billion to $3 billion.

The National Interconnected System (SNI) currently faces a deficit of over 1,000 kilometers of 230 kV transmission lines and 13 new substations, according to the Wholesale Market Administrator (AMM). This backlog hinders reliable and secure grid operations and does not account for new power generation projects.

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the country requires the construction, in the short term, of more than one thousand kilometers of transmission lines at 230 kilovolts (kV) and 13 new substations to guarantee reliable and safe operation of the National Interconnected System (SNI).

To address these deficiencies, the Ministry of Energy and Mines is preparing the fourth tender for electricity transmission projects (PET 4). Minister Víctor Hugo Ventura indicated that this tender aims to be more robust than the previous PET 3, which was declared void due to a lack of bidders. The ministry is reviewing lessons learned from PET 3 to improve the process for PET 4, which could be 50% larger than its predecessor.

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we are preparing the fourth tender of the Electricity Transmission Expansion Plan (PET 4).