GEOTHERMAL PLANT INAUGURATION.

On January 9, 1999, the President of Guatemala, Alvaro Arzu I., and the Ministry of Energy and Mines authorities inaugurated the first geothermal electric power generating plant in the country: The plant site is located about 30 kilometers south west of Guatemala city, near the town of Amatitlan. The generator is a Japanese-made Mitsubishi reservoir well mouth mounted type with atmospheric discharge with an initial production of 5 MW. This plant is capable to generate 35 Gwh a year. The total project had an estimated cost of US$10 million; The plant will be operated by the Mexican concern Ingenieros Asociados under the supervision of the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission (Comision Federal de Electricidad, CFE). ICA as operators will be selling around U.S.$0.0375 cents per generated kilowatt/hour. The Ministry of Energy and Mines said two other geothermal power generator projects are now under technical studies. One, in the area of Zunil, Quezaltenango, may start operations in October 1999.