Nicaragua's Gecsa to Invest $78 Million in 36 Hyundai Engines

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Nicaragua's state-owned Generadora Electrica Central S.A. (Gecsa), a subsidiary of Enel, has developed an expansion project to increase the amount of power plants fueled by bunker oil. Gecsa has an installed capacity of 182.7 megawatts (MW), 68% fueled by diesel and 32% fueled by bunker oil.

Gecsa's authorities estimate that by May, three blocks formed by 12 1.7-MW Hyundai internal combustion engines will be operating in Nicaragua. The engines will be purchased from Hyundai Heavy Industries Company (Seoul, Korea) for $26 million per block. In two weeks, the first group of engines will be shipped to Tipitapa City, Managua. Two more groups will be shipped to the Masaya Department and at Gecsa's 58-MW Managua thermal plant.

Nicaragua is facing a severe energy deficit. Hydroelectric plants in Apanas Lake and sugar cane bagasse power plants are generating at a low capacity.

According to Enel President Ernesto Martinez Tiffer, the new plants are a short-term solution to avoid fuels imports. The plants are expected to be complemented with new natural resources projects. Nicaraguan authorities have not said whether the Hyundai engines from Cuba are a donation or a purchase.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading marketing information services company for the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy-related markets throughout the world. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, IIR provides accurate and timely intelligence featuring plant and project information databases, focused market databases, industry forecasting, key industry contacts, industry and territorial map products, direct marketing services and applications, and daily industry news.