Paraguay
In the context of energy supply, Paraguay’s outstanding
natural asset is its hydro-electric potential, which
is mainly derived from the river Paraná and its tributaries.
The country’s gross theoretical capability for hydro-electricity
is about 111 TWh/year, of which 68 TWh is estimated
to economically exploitable. Two huge hydro-electric
schemes currently utilise the flow of the Paraná:
Itaipú, which Paraguay shares with Brazil, and Yacyretá,
which it shares with Argentina.
Itaipú is the world’s largest hydro-electric plant,
with a total generating capacity of 12 600 MW, of
which Paraguay’s share is 6 300 MW. This share is
far in excess of its present or foreseeable needs
and consequently the greater part of the output accruing
to Paraguay is sold back to Brazil.
The bi-national plant at Yacyretá, downstream from
Itaipú, has an installed capacity of 3 100 MW. The
first unit came into operation in September 1994;
all 20 units have now been installed, but are operating
at a reduced head, pending the reservoir’s final operating
level being attained.
Paraguay has a wholly-owned hydro plant (Acaray),
which has been recently uprated from 200 MW to 256
MW.
With its wealth of hydropower, Paraguay can virtually
dispense with fossil-fuelled power plants.
Total installed hydro-electric generating capacity
was just under 7.4 GW at the end of 1999, with no
new capacity reported to be under construction. Planned
capacity was 3 400 MW, consisting mainly of a new
bi-national project on the Paraná (Corpus, 2 880 MW).
This plant would be jointly owned by Paraguay and
Argentina. There are also plans for additional capacity
to be installed at Itaipú and Yacyretá.
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