In three years time, 90% of power will come from coal, natural gas or hydroelectric generation. If the government’s plans for the electricity sector come to fruition, by 2016 when this administration ends its term, the fuel matrix of electricity generation will have changed from petroleum to a mixture of coal, natural gas and hydroelectric generation. Advances have already been made for the conversion to natural gas.
The goal is for fuel oils, which currently supply 52% of our electricity, to fall to just 4% with a corresponding reduction in electricity production costs of approximately US$600 to US$800 million a year.
The Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) is counting on 1,100 new megawatts of energy from two major projects: one of them includes the two 300 MW coal-fired generators and the other is the installation of a 500 MW generator fired by natural gas.
According to plans announced by CDEEE executive vice-president Ruben Jimenez Bichara, by 2016, the fuel matrix should comprise: 55% natural gas, 25% coal, hydroelectric, 15%, fuel oil #6, 4% and fuel oil #1, 0%. Wind power will provide 2% and solar power will provide 1%.