Geothermal Field Development in Mexico

Abstract

Mexico is a Country characterized by its diversified means of Power Generation. Actual installed capacity is a l - most 19 000 MW, of which 205 hlW corres-ponds to Geothermal Plants, that is, - - 180 Fnhi in Cerro Prieto and 25 MW of Pox table Plants in Los Azufres. To date, 346 areas with exploita-tion possibilities, are known. They - - are mainly distributed along the Volcan i c Belt where the most prominent are, - Los Azufres, La P r i m a v e r a, Los Humeros, I x t l a n De Los Hervores and Los Negritos, among others. Proved reserves are 920 MW, and the accessible resource base are 4 600 MW identified and 6 000 MW undis-covered. The long range construction studies - intends to achieve a total installed - - capacity of 100 000 MW, by the end of - this century, including 2 000 MW Geothermal, through conventional and Portable - Plant s. I t is not a definite program,- but a development strategy. The carryingng out of a definite program, will depend upon the confirmation of Hypothesis made in previous studies, and the econo mic decisions related to the financial - sources availability, and technologies - to be used in the future - as well.