Pipe
The Thermopypa thermoelectric plant, one of the historical pillars of energy development in Colombia and a source of key employment for the center of the department of Boyacá, is going through one of its worst crises on behalf of administrative abandonment and the lack of investment by the company Gensa SA Esp.
The president of the House of Representatives, Jaime Raúl Salamancawarned that “thermopaipa represents one of the most important employment sources in the center of Boyacá”, and noted that the current situation of the plant is not the result of a technical obsolescence, but of the systematic abandonment and poor management of the administrator company.
Union complaints
The Thermopaipa Workers Union, SINTRAELECOLhas been documenting in recent years a series of irregularities that have deteriorated the work and operational stability of the plant:
1. Mala administration of genes and unjustified salary gapsthat affect the morals and conditions of the workers.
2. Failure of the cooling towers projectpart of the technological reconversion plan. This project, with an investment of more than 50 billion pesos, was suspended multiple occasions, is currently abandoned and has not resolved the Thermal contamination of the Chicamocha River.
3. The plants They are not obsoletebut Gensa has omitted to make the necessary investments for its modernization and maintenance, which puts its operation at risk.
4. The company has signed long -term energy sales contracts at prices lower to the marketwhich reduces its competitiveness and investment capacity.
5. Between 2019 y 2023Gensa received More than $ 200 billion As an operation, without being reflected in local investments or in the proper maintenance of the generation units in Boyacá.
Advances in the search for solutions
Since February, union leaders, political representatives and regional authorities have sustained Technical Tables with the aim of structuring a Petitions which was presented today before the Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Germán Ávilaat a meeting that was attended by the entire Boyacense bench in Congresshe Governor Carlos Amayathe Union of Workers and Representatives of Community Organizations.
He Representative to the Pedro Suárez Chamberwho has accompanied the process since March, described the meeting as a firm step in the defense of decent employment and regional energy sovereignty:
“Thermopaipa is a strategic infrastructure that cannot be followed in the hands of an absent administration. We appreciate the provision of Minister Ávila to address this problem. Keeping active this thermoelectric plant is vital for the country’s energy security and for the well -being of our department,” said Suarez.
During the meeting, Minister Germán Ávila He promised to review the financial situation From Gensa, he recognized the administrative shortcomings of the company and expressed his agreement with the general feeling of Boyacenses in the sense that The energy transition must be carried out in the same territory that today produces that energy.
Proposals from the territory
The Boyacá governorate He highlighted the unitary character of the process and political will of all actors to defend the interests of the department. In an official statement, three concrete measures were raised:
1. That the GENSA Managementresponsible for units 1, 2 and 3 of thermopaipa, Be led by Boyacenseswith domicile and direct articulation with the department.
2. Promote one Capitalization of the company through the purchase of shares by the department and the municipality of Paipa, which would allow to have Voice and vote in the Assembly and Board of Directors of Gensa.
3. Request one Independent external audit that reviews administrative and financial decisions adopted by Gensa in relation to thermopaipa.
Related news :