Electricity sector in Paraguay
Encyclopedia
Paraguay
is one of the few countries in Latin America
that has maintained an integrated public monopoly
on electricity
. Hydropower
comprises nearly 100 percent of electricity
in Paraguay; 90 percent of generated energy is exported, with neighboring Argentina
and Brazil
receiving the majority. Paraguay is one of the world’s largest electricity net exporters.
Because of the dominance of hydroelectricity
, tariff
s (mostly residential) are remarkably below the averages for the region. However, despite the abundance of resources, the Paraguayan electricity system faces a difficulty due to the lack of investment
in transmission and distribution networks. In addition, distribution losses are among the highest in the region.
) in 2005.
Paraguay operates two binational hydroelectric dams. Itaipu dam, by far the largest power station in the country, is operated with
Brazil
and has an installed capacity of 7000 MW (86 percent of Paraguay's generation capacity). Yacyretá
, the second largest hydroelectric facility, has an installed capacity of 900 MW (11 percent), and is operated with Argentina
. A third plant, Acaray has an installed capacity of 210 MW (3 percent). Thermal plants contribute less than 0.1 percent.
All of Paraguay's electricity for domestic consumption comes from a single facility, the binational 14 GW Itaipu hydroelectric dam.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
is one of the few countries in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
that has maintained an integrated public monopoly
Public utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
on electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
. Hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
comprises nearly 100 percent of electricity
Electricity generation
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
in Paraguay; 90 percent of generated energy is exported, with neighboring Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
receiving the majority. Paraguay is one of the world’s largest electricity net exporters.
Because of the dominance of hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
s (mostly residential) are remarkably below the averages for the region. However, despite the abundance of resources, the Paraguayan electricity system faces a difficulty due to the lack of investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
in transmission and distribution networks. In addition, distribution losses are among the highest in the region.
Installed capacity and generation
Paraguay is the only country in Latin America with almost 100 percent hydroelectric generation capacity (8,116 MWWatt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
) in 2005.
Paraguay operates two binational hydroelectric dams. Itaipu dam, by far the largest power station in the country, is operated with
Brazil
Electricity sector in Brazil
Brazil has the largest electricity market in South America, with a power consumption that is more than double the combined consumption of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay. Its installed capacity is comparable to that of Italy and the United Kingdom, although with a much larger transmission...
and has an installed capacity of 7000 MW (86 percent of Paraguay's generation capacity). Yacyretá
Yacyretá Dam
The Yacyretá Dam or Hydroelectric Power Station Jasyretâ-Apipé is a dam and hydroelectric power plant built over the waterfalls of Jasyretâ-Apipé in the Paraná River, between the Argentine Province of Corrientes and the Paraguayan City of Ayolas. The dam is named for Yacyretâ Island just upstream,...
, the second largest hydroelectric facility, has an installed capacity of 900 MW (11 percent), and is operated with Argentina
Electricity sector in Argentina
The electricity sector in Argentina constitutes the third largest power market in Latin America. It relies mostly on thermal generation and hydropower generation , with new renewable energy technologies barely exploited. The country still has a large untapped hydroelectric potential...
. A third plant, Acaray has an installed capacity of 210 MW (3 percent). Thermal plants contribute less than 0.1 percent.
All of Paraguay's electricity for domestic consumption comes from a single facility, the binational 14 GW Itaipu hydroelectric dam.
Asunción Asunción Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San... area), where over 60% of the total national consumption is located. Electricity consumption by consumer group is divided as follows:
In 2004, the country consumed only 16% of its 50% share of Itaipu’s production, exporting the rest to Brazil. As for Yacyreta, Paraguay consumes less than 1% of its share, exporting the rest to Argentina. The electricity interconnections that allow power exchanges with Brazil and Argentina are:
Source: ESMAP, 2006 Access to electricityIn 2005, almost 90% of the population in Paraguay had access to electricity, which is just slightly below than the 94.6% average for LACLAC -Places:* Los Angeles County in California* La Crescenta, California, unincorporated area in Los Angeles County* California State Prison, Los Angeles County... The 2002 Census revealed that 87% of the households without electricity were located in rural areas, where access was about 77%. Rural coverage varies considerably among the different regions of the country. It is lowest in the remote and sparsely populated Chaco Chaco Department The Paraguayan Chaco or Región Occidental is a semi-arid region in Paraguay, with a very low population density.The Chaco is a large geographic area that is sparsely populated. Many of those living in the region are native peoples... , or Western region. The table below shows rural coverage by Department for 2002: See also:Departments of Paraguay Departments of Paraguay |Paraguay consists of 17 departments and one capital district . These are, with their capitals indicated in parentheses:- External links :... (including a map)
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