IDB to support hydro development in Latin America and Caribbean

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved technical cooperation to help advance the expansion of hydroelectric generation in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to BNamericas.

Under one programme, the regional lender will provide US$ 1.5 million to support the modernization of plants through the preparation of prefeasibility and feasibility studies and the provision of capacity building and coordination.

The initiative will target Bolivia’s state power utility Ende’s 147 MW Corani plant, El Salvadoran state power firm CEL’s 180 MW 15 de Septiembre and 100 MW 5 de Noviembre plants, Mexican state power company CFE’s 51.2 MW Colimilla and 2 MW Texolo plants, and the 189 MW Afobaka plant operated by Suriname’s state-run Staatsolie Power.

A second initiative will look at the deployment of pumped-storage capacity in two of six countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, and Peru) where the bank has already conducted initial work. This programme will channel US$ 250 000 to analyse the regulatory framework, advance case studies and evaluate at least one pilot project. The technical cooperation funds will be used for the procurement of consultancy services for both programmes.