ANDE to finance power transmission and distribution for Paraguay metropolitan system through CAF loan

The Improvement Project for Paraguay’s Metropolitan System calls for the construction of the Villa Elisa and Buey Rodeo 220 kV Substation, the expansion of the La Victoria, Villeta and Guarambaré Substation, as well as the enhancement of the 66 kV and 220 kV transmission system in the metropolitan region of the country.

For distribution, the plan establishes the replacement of bare conductors with coated and pre-assembled conductors (1,068 km) in Medium and Low Voltage lines, in addition to reinforcement of 370,394 kVA processing posts, by installing 3,704 100 kVA distribution transformers, at the Puerto Botánico, Puerto Sajonia, San Lorenzo, Lambaré, Luque and Tres Bocas distribution centers, respectively.

The project consists of five components, the first two related to two sub-projects designed by ANDE and which are part of the 2014-2023 Generation, Transmission and Distribution Master Plan.

Component 1 includes revamping the Power Distribution System in the Metropolitan Area and consists of replacing bare conductors with insulated conductors in Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) distribution networks of the Metropolitan System, specifically in the Puerto Botánico (PBO); Puerto Sajonia (PSA); San Lorenzo (SLO); Lambaré (LAM); Luque (LUQ) and Tres Boca (TBO) Distribution Centers.

These centers serve the towns of Asunción, Fernando de la Mora, San Lorenzo, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Villa Elisa and Lambaré, in the Central department. The population benefiting from this is estimated at more than 1.8 million, and will grow to 2.8 million by 2035.

Component 2 includes the Reinforcement of the Electrical System in the Central, Paraguarí and Presidente Hayes Departments.

The total cost of the Project amounts to USD 211.7 million, to be financed through a USD 150 million CAF loan, with the agreement signed today and to be approved by the National Congress, and a loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) for USD 32.0 million, with a local ANDE amount of US$29.7 million.

The Loan Agreement was signed by ANDE president Víctor Romero Solís, and CAF Director-Representative Jorge Gärtner. The event was also attended by company and CAF executives, among other guests.