09:24 AM
The Colectora electric power transmission project, which seeks to connect the Colectora-Cuestecitas section in La Guajira, has encountered various obstacles during its development, which has generated delays and challenges for its execution, such as cPrior consultations, community conflicts and environmental authorization.
The Colectora project aims integrate non-conventional renewable energy sources (wind and solar) into the Colombian electrical system. However, delays in its operation have affected the installed capacity and the maximum demand for renewable energy in the country.
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After these obstacles, the ministries of Mines and Energy and Environment and Sustainable Development confirmed that The National Environmental License Authority (Anla) granted permits for the advancement of the 500 kilowatt capacity Collector project.
This has its first phase in development with Colectora – La Loma, and seeks to incorporate the second Collector phase – Cuestecitas to strengthen and modernize the infrastructure that brings renewable energies to the entire country from territories such as La Guajira.
This project of Grupo Energía De Bogotá SAESP reached agreements with the 235 ethnic communities in the area of influence and the adaptation of the design to the socio-environmental conditions of the territory thanks to the work between MinEnergía, MinAmbiente, MinInterior, Anla and the Guajira Tripartite Committee.
It must be remembered that obtaining environmental authorization to carry out prior consultations experienced a delay of one year. In addition, government measures related to the pandemic also impacted the original schedule. The process of obtaining environmental permits in general has been long and complex.
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The Colectora project contract has a duration of 15 years and is established in Colombian pesos. and establishes prices below $30 per megawatt, therefore, any additional delay could generate financial problems for the awarded companies.
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Omar Andrés Camacho, explained that, with the progress of these works and their implementation, energy security will be guaranteed through renewable sources such as lto wind energy in a transmission line with 516 tower sites, 228 km in two parallel lines with a simple circuit, a total length of 228 km and an installation of 3,000 km of conductor cable, reducing supply costsmaintenance and other variables to consider in the energy cycle that will end up adding La Guajira to the country’s energy matrix.
“Without a doubt it is very important news for the country. The strategic value of this project with 16 transmission lines and more than 2.8 gigawatts of energy that can enter the Interconnected Systemwith a view to becoming a country with the capacity to export clean energy and bring renewable resources to the people in the territories,” Camacho said.
This project would represent 6% of the installed capacity in Colombia and 9.6% of the country’s maximum demand. Likewise, this line is part of the process in which Anla contributes to energy generation, granting licenses to 43 projects, of which 7 are wind projects, 19 photovoltaic and 17 transmission lines.
