Hydroelectric power drives energy generation in Panama and Argentina

Hydroelectric power is playing a significant role in the energy matrices of Panama and Argentina, despite differing regional contexts.

In Panama, hydroelectric plants provided 46.1% of the total electricity on September 22, contributing 17,550.75 MWh. This comes amid the El Niño phenomenon, though experts note that precipitation decreases are not uniform across all basins. The Fortuna plant in Chiriquí was the largest producer, followed by Changuinola 1 in Bocas del Toro and Estí in Chiriquí. While some reservoirs show slight reductions, the Fortuna reservoir remains well above its minimum operating level.

In Argentina, hydroelectric generation saw a 44.6% year-on-year increase in August, reaching 3.4 TWh. This growth occurred alongside a 13.3% decrease in thermal generation and a 6.1% rise in total electricity demand. While local generation grew by 3.6%, electricity imports also increased by 54.1% compared to the previous year.