Costa Rica Country Update

Abstract

Exploitation and development at the Miravalles geothermal field have continued since the first unit of 55 MW was put on line in March 1994. During that same year, a 5 MW backpressure unit went into operation, and in 1998 a second condensing unit of 55 MW was installed. The energy produced by these plants represents about 20 percent of the nationís total energy consumption. During 1998-1999 the drilling campaign to obtain the steam required for a third unit of 27.5 MW was completed; this unit will be on line in May 2000. Finally, a portion of the heat available in the water that is currently injected will be used to operate a second-stage flash unit of 19 MW. The total installed geothermal capacity at Miravalles will therefore be 162.5 MW.

Feasibility studies of the Tenorio geothermal project are now underway, and the first of four deep wells in the Tenorio field has been completed. In addition, a pre-feasibility study of the RincÛn de la Vieja geothermal project has been successfully completed.