Geothermal Power Development in Guatemala 1995-2000

Abstract

Activities related to Geothermal Power Development in Guatemala during the period 1995-2000 include some work carried out by INDE, the Government institution in charge of the electricity in the country and some others by private companies. INDE has five geothermal areas in reserve to develop, they are: Zunil, Amatitl·n, Tecuamburro, San Marcos and Moyuta and is also working in Totonicap·n. From 1995 to 1997 INDE has been working in the maintenance of Zunil and Amatitl·n, fields that were ready to produce 24 and 12 MW respectively, after feasibility studies. Production of geothermal electricity in Amatitl·n started in October 1998 with a 5 MW portable plant, operated by the Company Ingenieros Civiles Asociados (ICA). At that time, JICA also carried out a study to evaluate the extension and capacity of this field, drilling two commercial exploratory wells. In August 1999 the Company Orzunil I S.A. started the production of electricity in Zunil I geothermal field with a 24 MW binary cycle power plant. In addition a private company Bloteca is using direct heat to dry concrete blocks and has drilled three wells in Amatitl·n to install a binary cycle power plant, also another company Agroindustria La Laguna is operating a direct use plant to dry fruits. For the year 2000 it is expected to produce 75 MW of geothermal electricity and the equivalent of 10 MW of direct use of this kind of energy.