The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of the United States has announced that the probability of a phenomenon of the child towards the end of this year it is 90 percent, and the chance of it being strong is 40 percent.
A ‘Niño’ is synonymous with drought And since Colombia produces approximately 70 percent of the energy consumed in the country with water, the arrival of this climatic phenomenon has all authorities on alert.
(Also read: What can we expect from the El Niño phenomenon in Colombia? President Petro warns)
Juan Pablo Rueda Bustamante / EL TIEMPO
In the scenario of greater water stress, our matrix could respond
on demand.
To prevent Colombians from having any affectation in the provision of electric power service, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélezthey respect the actions that are being implemented.
In addition, he said that an encouraging fact is that the level of the reservoirs is above the average of the last 20 years. Otherwise it happened in the ‘Niño’ 2015-2016 when the water reserves were 17 points below.
«XM has carried out a modeling that today allows us to conclude that, even in the scenario of greater water stress, our matrix could respond to the demand, that means we are ready«, sure.
(Also read: How strong will the El Niño phenomenon be in Colombia? Ideam explains its intensity)
Twitter @asoh2colombia
One of the first steps was to identify gas and coal supply routes for the thermal ones that still exist in the country, since these plants increase their activity when water is scarce.
In addition, in order to have the gas that is required to meet the increase in demand from the thermal plants, ecopetrol It would reduce the consumption of this fuel.
Another measure has to do with the previous and scheduled maintenance of the thermal ones so that they are available when they are needed and to be able to meet the consumption of electrical energy. Official visits to the plants are also being made.
(Read also: El Niño phenomenon: how much would the temperature increase in Colombia?)
The importance of the Reliability Charge
What we expect from
the Government is that this mechanism is effective
He Reliability Charge It was created in 2006 and it is an «insurance» that all Colombians pay, through their bill, so that power plants are available and can generate energy when an El Niño phenomenon occurs.
Between December 1, 2006 and May 6, 2023, users have paid generators 68.3 billion pesos for this «insurance». Each month he receives approximately 1 billion pesos.
«What we hope from the Government is that this mechanism is effective and that at the time of an El Niño phenomenon the availability of firm energy is there so that let’s not have a blackout«said Minister Irene Vélez.
We also saw that, generally, when an El Niño phenomenon occurs rates tend to go up, mainly, those of the companies that have a high exposure in the energy stock market. In addition, it must be taken into account that it is more expensive to generate electricity with gas or coal, than with water.