In 2025, the Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP), through its Termoesmeraldas business unit, hosted 400 students in its pre-professional internship program. The initiative is aimed at supporting the education and practical training of young people from Esmeraldas.
The participants were students from Instituto Técnico Luis Tello, Universidad Luis Vargas Torres, and Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador’s Esmeraldas campus. These institutions are located near the Esmeraldas I and II thermal power plants, which have capacities of 125 megawatts and 96 megawatts respectively.
The interns came from various academic backgrounds including industrial mechanics, automotive mechanics, electrical engineering, electronics, accounting and auditing, commercial engineering, computer science, environmental studies, forestry, and nursing. With ongoing guidance from technical staff at CELEC EP Termoesmeraldas, the students engaged in all stages of electricity generation using steam turbines and internal combustion engines.
According to CELEC EP Termoesmeraldas, “These students were part of the 2,800 beneficiaries of the internship program that has been in place since 2013 as part of the Corporate Social Management Plan and Community Engagement.” The agreements with local educational institutions allow students to access different areas within the power plants to complete between 200 to 300 hours of practical experience.
In addition to internships, CELEC EP also welcomed 1,154 students from ten institutes and eighteen universities across Ecuador for educational visits during the year. These visitors toured machine rooms, workshops, laboratories and other facilities while following safety regulations.
CELEC notes that operating these two thermal plants provides significant savings for the state compared to other similar facilities in Ecuador. Their proximity to the State Refinery in Esmeraldas eliminates fuel transport costs. “With these actions,” a company statement said, “the Government of El Nuevo Ecuador through CELEC EP contributes to training future professionals in strategic sectors and facilitates their entry into various technical fields required by the country.”
