Peña reports progress in electricity grid, millions in investments in annual report

President Santiago Peña's third annual report showcases significant advancements in Paraguay's national electricity system, emphasizing substantial international investment and technological upgrades. A key highlight is a $140 million loan secured from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). This funding is earmarked for constructing the Emboscada 500/220 kV substation, designed to enhance sustainable electricity supply for economic development, and for expanding the national electricity company's (ANDE) grid.

The report details that ANDE has achieved 33% progress in digitizing its distribution network using the Smallworld Electric Office system. This initiative employs advanced technologies such as LiDAR sensors, drones, 360° cameras, and artificial intelligence to create 3D models and a centralized database of the company's assets. So far, over 80,000 kilometers of power lines across 104 districts have been surveyed, with more than 561,500 poles georeferenced, aiming for a national target of 2.5 million structures.

Beyond the major substation project, the report also announced the completion of other infrastructure works. In Concepción, the Vallemí II substation received two 220 kV capacitor banks, an investment of $2.9 million. Additionally, the María Auxiliadora and Alto Paraná substations were commissioned. The María Auxiliadora project included constructing approximately 90 kilometers of 220 kV transmission lines, expected to benefit over 80,000 users in southern Paraguay. The Alto Paraná substation, equipped with Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) technology and a 400 MVA capacity, required an investment of about $26 million, funded by the European Union and the EIB, and is projected to serve over 300,000 users in Ciudad del Este and its surrounding areas.

In the distribution segment, which directly impacts end-users, the report highlighted the installation of 3,130 new transformers, adding over 436,000 kVA of power capacity. The replacement of aging equipment also contributed to reinforcing the network's reliability and efficiency, underscoring the government's commitment to modernizing the nation's power infrastructure.