What is siepac?

SIEPAC (Sistema de Interconexión Eléctrica de los Países de América Central) is a regional project that aims to interconnect the electrical systems of Central American countries. The project was initiated in 1996 and completed in 2013 with the installation of high voltage lines that cross six Central American countries including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

The main objective of SIEPAC is to create a regional electricity market that allows for the efficient use of resources and the reduction of energy costs by increasing competition in the energy sector. The project has also been designed to improve the reliability and security of electricity supply in the region, as well as to promote the integration of renewable energy sources, such as hydro, wind and solar power.

SIEPAC has received funding from international organizations such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Investment Bank. The project has contributed to the development of regional energy policies and regulations, as well as to the creation of a regional electricity market operator (CRIE), which coordinates the operation and management of the interconnected electrical systems.