The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – On Monday July 1, the ICE Colima Thermal Energy Plant will end their life cycle after nearly 57 years of operation. The deterioration of generating units, discontinued by manufacturers are the main factors that limit their continuity within the National Electric Park.
Colima reached a generation of little more than 19 MW, but in later years it had reduced outputs, producing up to 12 MW. The life cycle of a plant of this type is about 30 years; ICE was able to keep it running almost double than expected.
The plant started 1956, when the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) began the era of the national electricity system development, as established Thermal ICE Colima built as the first country’s largest plant then.
Currently the center has 38 production workers, which began a process of gradual transfers into other areas of the institution. The plant will continue until March of 2014 when the entire process is complete including waste cleanup, eliminating risks in the area, along with an appraisal for the scrap tender may be granted in accordance with the civil service.
Some of its fuel tanks may be relocated to other thermal plants, so that they can increase the storage capacity in other production centers ICE.
To compensate for the reduced energy output after the plant closes, ICE the first 6 MW will come from the modernization of Rio Macho Hydroelectric Plant, located in Carthage. This first stage looked at the complete change of the generating units 1 and 2, which will be ready for early next month. CRHOY
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica
