Colombia inaugurates 1st geothermal power unit

Canada-headquartered oil-and-gas exploration company Parex Resources Inc (TSE:PXT), alongside the National University of Colombia - Medellin campus and the Colombian ministry of mines and energy, has inaugurated a pilot geothermal power generation unit in the department of Casanare, Colombia.

The system is the first of its kind in the country and will produce hydrocarbons and around 100 kW of electrical power from geothermal resources in the Maracas field, the energy ministry said in a press release.

In a separate statement, Spanish company Expander Tech SL said it had delivered two customised organic Rankine cycle (ORC) machines for power generation as part of the initiative.

The pilot plant will generate up to 72,000 kWh of electrical energy, about as much 480 families would consume on average over one month.

Due to Colombia’s natural characteristics - it is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire - the country has the conditions to develop these types of projects and geothermal resources of around 138.60 exajoules and 1,170.20 MW of electrical power, the ministry highlighted, citing data from the Colombian Geological Service.

Parex is working on a similar project in the Rumba field, and will also build a 3-MWp solar farm in Casanare, according to the ministry's release.

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