Economika supplement: power generation for industrial competitiveness

William Ríos Rosales

Journalist

wrios@editoraperu.com.pe

In Peru, electric energy is obtained mainly by two methods; through hydroelectric power plants, which take advantage of the kinetic energy of the water that, when falling down a slope, drives generators; and through thermal power plants, generated from combustion engines. Seventy percent of electricity production comes from hydroelectric power plants and the rest from thermal power plants, says Miguel Révolo, regulation manager of the Supervisory Body of Investment in Energy and Mining (Osinergmin). Peru's image will be promoted in Colombia and Mexico]Investment

Thanks to investments, we have an installed capacity of 15,000 megawatts (MW), while our maximum demand is half that (7,500 MW). What does this level mean? That the production of electric energy in Peru reached the qualification of energy security, which evidently gives us competitiveness, especially when we have mining as our main client, which contributes 15% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) at economic prices and with a security of supply. "So we are a fairly effective country to attract investments, beyond the resources we have."

In March of this year, the Executive submitted to Congress Bill 4565/2022-PE, which seeks to amend various articles of Law No. 28832, which aims to ensure the efficient development of electricity generation.

In this respect, Mr. Révolo explained that this initiative would facilitate the promotion of investment in energy. Not only small projects, of less than 80 MW, could be carried out.

"We have a potential to establish 4,000 MW initiatives, of which 2,000 MW of wind energy in the north and 2,000 MW of solar energy in the south. But the great news for Peru is that we have a highway to bring that energy, which are the 500 kilowatt (KB) transmission lines that were developed in double circuit", he specifies.

At present, we can bring 1,300 MW of wind energy from the construction of these 500 KB lines that are being built, which will be finished in two years. In fact, we have a potential of 4,800 MW of renewable energy that could enter the national interconnected system and thus guarantee the security of supply at totally economic prices for the country.

Forum

In August of this year, Peru hosted the Eighth World Energy Regulatory Forum, the most important of its kind in the world, which concluded on the need to modernize regulatory approaches that promote investment and innovation for the benefit of current users as well as future generations.

Peru is proud to have hosted this international event, especially when it brought together a significant number of presidents of regulatory agencies from more than 40 countries around the world, he said. Lima was host to leaders and experts from more than 40 countries from all continents, who debated the regulatory policies that will mark the future of energy development for Peru and the world.

In this event, held for the first time in South America, we demonstrated that we are capable of organizing world-class events and receiving delegations from all over the world. Osinergmin's organization focused on making the forum a space for dialogue and debate on key issues for the planet.

"It was an opportunity for academics, specialists from the public sector, students and also regulators in Peru to benefit from the experience and best practices that each regulatory body was able to communicate through the different working tables, sessions, to discuss topics, for example, such as the case of universal access," he says.

Electricity tariffs

In compliance with the regulations on the updating of electricity tariffs, Osinergmin has carried out the corresponding monthly review. As a result of this review, as of September 4, 2023, the electricity tariffs of the National Interconnected Electric System (SEIN) will have an average variation of 0.60% for residential users and 0.26% for commercial and industrial users. The electricity tariff is composed of the efficient costs of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity to users.

To date, electricity tariffs for the regulated sector and especially for residential users have been reduced by around 12%, as a result of the improvement in the country's macroeconomic indicators, said the Regulation Manager.

He specified that these prices vary according to the exchange rate, the cost of gas, the price of commodities such as copper and aluminum, as well as other key elements in the electricity industry.

In September 2023, the change is also due to the update of distribution tariffs due to the variation of the wholesale price index.

Details

- The central theme of the Eighth World Energy Regulatory Forum was the challenge of energy transformation: competitiveness and sustainability of energy markets, opportunities and achievements.

- The topic is very important for everyone, since the energy transformation or transition is related to all policies or decisions taken in various countries, so that energy production transitions to more environmentally friendly ways to reduce climate change.

- Peru gives the post to Georgia, the country that will host the ninth edition of the World Energy Regulatory Forum in 2026.




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