The general manager of EPM, Jorge Andrés Carrillo, warned this Tuesday that there is still no defined date for the entry into operation of Hidroituangoafter that project announced that it had completed tests for register the second generation unit before the National Power System.
In a press conference in which the official gave a new update on the work, he specified that EPM is waiting to coordinate with the different municipalities located in the area closest to the hydroelectric plant the protocols for the preventive evacuation ordered by the National Government.
“We believe that next week we will define a day where we can carry out this protocol and thus be able to generate energy continuously, which is what Resolution 1056 prevents us from within the framework of the evacuation that we have been preparing,” said the manager. Carrillo, without committing to mention any date.
Despite the fact that with the milestone of this Tuesday the project is getting closer to being able to generate energy, Carrillo clarified that more demanding tests are still missing.
“Let’s remember that these are machines of the largest size and power, this cannot simply be entered without warning. These tests basically what they are going to do is verify how both the machine and the system behave to regulate the frequencyCarrillo said.
Mixed messages
The announcement of this new milestone was once again a stage for the mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, to take the opportunity to take the microphones and once again turn his speech in front of to EPM’s risk of defaulting before the Creg.
Only during the last month, when the tests on Tuesday had not yet been completed, Quintero had already assured that Hidroituango it was ready to light on november 15but a week and a half later he said that it would not be possible to do so before November 30.
“This is a very important step to avoid sanctions on EPM. Today and tomorrow are still missing, where we will be working to meet all the necessary requirements to avoid any sanction”, Quintero said this Tuesday, without specifying what EPM’s request is before the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission.
It should be remembered that last Thursday, November 10, manager Carillo sent a trade where he formalized his request to have more time to turn on the hydroelectric, but that entity asked for more information before taking a decision.
In case of default, EPM would be risking XM foreclosing a guarantee for 207 million dollars and losing the reliability charge allocations, estimated at around 65 million dollars per year over an 18-year horizon.
Although there are only hours left for the expiration of the term, it is still unknown what final decision the Creg will adopt and What is EPM’s risk of suffering this million-dollar financial blow?