ICE inaugurates the 55 MW Las Pailas II geothermal plant in Costa Rica

Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) has commenced the operation of its 55 MW Las Pailas II geothermal plant located in the southwest of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano in Curubandé de Liberia, Guanacaste province, Costa Rica.

The ICE projects an average annual generation of 410 GWh that will derive steam from its 21-well geothermal field at an average depth of 2,200 meters. The work includes a pipeline of almost 14 kilometers, home of machines, cooling tower, and substation, among other equipment.

The Institute indicated a cost increase to US$366 million back in May of this year. The document indicates that it has injected energy into the National Electric System since March of this year. The financing for the US$335 million project is sourced from the Japan Government Cooperation Agency (JICA), European Investment Bank (EIB) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).