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www.ebizguides.com
Energy
own and operate a gas recollection system at the
sanitized filler of Nejapa. As a result, it is expected
to install and operate an electric generator plant that
provides up to 25MW of renewal energy derived
from the capture and combustion of methane gas.
COMISIÓN EJECUTIVA HIDROELÉCTRICA
DEL RÍO LEMPA (CEL)
Dr. José Andrés Márquez Rodríguez
Executive Director
9ª Calle Pte. 950 entre 15 y 17 Av. Norte,
Centro de Gobierno, San Salvador
Tel: (+503) 2211 6012
Fax: (+503) 2211 6231
amarquez@cel.gob.sv
www.cel.gob.sv
Activity: Energy generation and distribution
Date of Creation: 1945
Profits: 140 million US Dollars
Employees: 515
Founded in 1945 to take advantage of the country’s
water resources, CEL currently has ventured to
expand its envolvement in renewable energy. Since
1996, when the electric sector was restructured,
CEL was the public company that held a monopoly
in electricity generation and distribution.
Even now, CEL is one of the largest companies in
El Salvador managing the hydroelectric centrals of
the November 5th dam, inaugurated in 1954 and
the Guajoyo hydroelectric central, inaugurated in
1964. More hydroelectric centrals that are under its
responsibility are Cerron Grande of 1997 and the
September 15th, inaugurated in 1983.
CEL generates in total, 25% of the country’s energy.
If we take into consideration that it has 100% of
the Energy Investment (INE), that has the electric
central of Talnique, its market participation increases
by 7%. At the same time INE, specialized in thermal
energy, has 60% of the LaGEO. This company
generates 24% of the energy base. We are stating
that CEL is indirectly responsible for 55-66% of the
generated energy. These figures vary according
to the season of the year, since during the rainy
season, the hydroelectric participation increases and
compensates with the drop in thermal and vice versa
during the dry season.
Currently, CEL has three strategic projects. The
principal one is the construction of a new dam, El
Chaparral, that will have 66MW of installed power
upon conclusion in 2013. It is being built by the Italian
company Stanley at a cost of US$220 million.
The second axis of CEL is the expansion of 66MW
of installed power at the November 5th dam, with
an estimated investment of US$130 million and the
improvement project of the pumping unit of Cerron
Grande of about US$40 million. In the hydroelectric
area it counts with other small projects like the bi-
national one with Guatemala at the Paz River, or the
Tiger River.
El Salvador has almost 365 sunny days, the reason
why CEL is strongly betting on solar energy with
projects at the September 5th and Guajoyo terrains
for the construction of solar farms in partnership with
the German KFW.
CEL is not the company that uses the Lempa River
water to generate energy, but the company that
helps environment, people, that contributes to the
well-being of Salvadorans and with the energy it
produces generates job.
“I know Central America well and I think El Salvador
is a strategic country in the region because we want
to advance with the development of the country. It
still is a country of opportunities where people are
hard-working. We have the advantage of being
close to Guatemala and Honduras. We have a good
port and the best airport. Highways of the region
have no comparison and we are a country that has
not exploited tourism yet.”
Dr. Andrés Márquez,
Executive Director of CEL
Solar energy in a San Salvador building (CEL)