The government of Ecuador is moving forward with the Ecuador–Peru Electric Interconnection project, which will operate at 500,000 volts and require an investment of $289.4 million for the Ecuadorian section. The initiative aims to improve the security of electricity supply for Ecuador’s population of 18 million.
On November 20, representatives from Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP), the technical team from its Transelectric business unit, officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) met with 95 national and international companies. The meeting focused on explaining the scope and benefits of the project, as well as presenting details about the upcoming international bidding process for goods and works.
Javier Medina, Vice Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; Antonio Jácome Pólit, General Manager of CELEC EP; Ignez Tristao, IDB representative in Ecuador; and Jekaterina Dorodnova, Ambassador of the European Union in Ecuador, led the event.
Vice Minister Medina stated: “the country needs it. We continue preparing as a nation; lessons from the past have helped us strengthen our electrical system and move forward in a transition that is also social.”
Antonio Jácome Pólit said: “this project, promoted by the Government of El Nuevo Ecuador, will open the door to energy exchanges between Ecuador and Peru, taking advantage of each system’s strengths to achieve greater security and stability in electricity supply for 18 million Ecuadorians.”
The interconnection includes several key construction projects:
– Transmission lines: Chorrillos–Pasaje (500 kV double circuit over 206.97 km), Pasaje–Frontera (500 kV double circuit over 77.88 km), and a 230 kV line from Pasaje substation (1.96 km) that will connect to an existing line.
– Substations: A new Pasaje substation (500/230 kV, 600 MVA) and expansion of Chorrillos substation (500 kV).
The new infrastructure will enable both countries to exchange energy based on their hydrological cycles—exporting surplus during high production periods or importing cheaper energy during domestic shortages.
Officials say these efforts reinforce government commitments to strengthen Ecuador’s electricity sector while supporting national development goals and promoting regional energy integration.
