ENEL has $127 million to Invest in El Salvador

Since litigation began in 2008 regarding the funding of LaGeo, investment plans in El Salvador have ben stalled, but are now coming back into effect.

Friday, July 22, 2011

An article in Laprensagrafica reports that the company Enel will invest $127 million in El Salvador next year as part of the original plan which was based on an agreement with shareholders that the Italian company would provide more capital, in exchange for just over 50% of the shares of the geothermal company LaGeo. This investment plan has been frozen since 2008 after ENEL began arbitration proceedings against ENEL Investment Energy (INE) and the Lempa River Hydroelectric Executive (CEL) because they wouldnt allow the funding.

Among the possible, nearest projects, are the exploration of geothermal fields in St. Vincent and Chinameca (San Miguel), and investment in Unit 4 in Berlin (Usulután). "In tangible terms, current projects are expansions of existing fields, improvement of plants and explorations of new areas for possible geothermal projects. Then there are others that are being discussed which can be taken into consideration," said Valerio Cecchi, president of Enel. "If it became necessary and if accepted by other partners, (we could fund) other forms of energy such asphotovoltaic, solar or wind, which might be of interest to LaGeo" he added.

More on this topic

Dispute Over Geothermal La Geo Heats Up Again

March 2012

Two Salvadoran government agencies are insisting on not giving the majority shares in the La Geo generator to Italy's Enel, despite a court of international arbitration ruling against them.

Inversiones Energéticas (INE) and Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa (CEL) have again refused to give the Italian company Enel Green Power a majority stake in the geothermal company La Geo, despite a ruling by an international body against them.

El Salvador To Appeal LaGeo Ruling

July 2011

CEL has filed a motion to quash the ruling that would allow Enel to have a majority stake in LaGeo geothermal plant.

Tóchez Irving, president of the Commission of the Lempa River Hydroelectric Executive, said: "It is inappropriate to put a country’s strategic resource, such as a geothermal plant, into private hands," when presenting the proceedings before the court of appeals in Paris, France.

LaGeo Could Lose Concession in El Salvador

October 2011

The mixed ownership company for geothermal power generation has failed to deliver the power levels cited in the concession contract for the past 3 years.

LaGeo is jointly owned by Italy's Enel and the Salvadoran state through the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (CEL), and is the subject of litigation between the parties with respect to the Italian’s shareholding.

El Salvador: LaGeo Case Affecting Country's Image

August 2011

The dispute between the Italian company Enel and the CEL and INE commissions has sent a negative message to foreign investors.

In the opinion of experts, the fact that by the Ente Nazionale per l'Energia elettrica (Enel) and the Lempa River Hydroelectric Executive (CEL) are going through an arbitration process in order to decide who gets majority control of the geothermal plant, could be affecting the country’s attractiveness in terms of foreign investment.

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