Project Description

Panama: Line IV Project of Consulting Services of Energy Transmission in 500 kV

proyecto-IFC-WBG-panama Pepsa Tecsult

GENERAL DATA

  • Project: 9708

  • Location: Provinces of Bocas del Toro, Comarca Nögbe Buglé, Veraguas, Colón, Cocle and Panamá.

  • Customer: International Finance Corporation (IFC)
    The World Bank Group.
  • Owner: Compañía Nacional de Transmisión Eléctrica de Panamá (ETESA)

  • Financing: International Finance Corporation (IFC)
    The World Bank Group
proyecto-IFC-WBG-panama Pepsa Tecsult

Background

As Panama has doubled its installed power generation capacity from approximately 980 MW in 2000 to more than 2600 MW in the western part of the country since 2014, the transmission system requires to expand reliability so the installation of a 500 kV line is necessary. The transmission line is designed to transport electricity from any of the more than 30 existing public and private power producers in Panama.

This need for additional transmission capacity is also a response to the growing integration of regional energy markets through SIEPAC (Sistema Centroamericano de Interconexión Eléctrica) and minimizes the vulnerability of existing transmission lines due to the shared alignment in the Pacific corridor.

TECHNICAL DATA

Lines: Panamá III – Chiriquí Grande
Voltage: 500 kV
Minimum capacity: Normal operation: 1,280 MVA | Emergency operation: 1,856 MVA
Approx. length: 317 Km
Substations: Panamá III (Ampliación) Chiriquí Grande
Voltage: 500/230 kV 230/500 kV
proyecto-IFC-WBG-panama Pepsa Tecsult

Scope of service

  • Analysis through electrical power studies of the National Interconnected System of Panama applied to the project, ensuring the correct operation of the electrical system: load flow studies in normal state and in contingencies, short circuit current studies, transient stability studies, overvoltage and reactive compensation studies by determining the use of SVC and/or reactors.
  • Electrical studies for the design of transmission lines and associated substations, such as transient line energization studies to define line and substation equipment isolation and transformer energization studies.
  • Engineering of the double circuit 500 kV transmission line, 317 km long, with a nominal capacity of 1280 MVA for each circuit. Topography using LIDAR system for the route layout of the transmission line and location of the substations and their civil works.
  • Engineering of the Chiriqui Grande and Panama III substations, both 500/230 kV, each with a capacity of 1530/1950 MVA ONAN/ONAF, with GIS/AIS technology. Including civil works.
  • Engineering of the substation SCADA automation-control system, with the National Dispatch Center and SDH telecommunications system by OPGW fiber optic, trunked radio and satellite communication.
  • Identification of owners and/or possessors of the public and private lands for the settlement of the electric easement rights of the 500 kV transmission line route, as well as the estimation of the easement payments for the use of land and air.
  • Cost analysis and referential budget of the project.
  • Support in the generation of the contract, establishing the technical aspects that the engineering designs to be tendered must meet, according to the BOOT type bidding (bidding documents, contract and annexes) directed by the IFC.