2008-09-05

Colombian steel output down in H1, mainly for longs

Colombia's rolled steel output dropped 1.3% in the first six months this year, as a consequence of maintenance stoppages that mainly affected longs output.

Steel Business Briefing notes that Colombia is not self-sufficient in steel, which obligates some domestic mills to import inputs like scrap and billets, or even finished products, to meet local demand.

According to figures disclosed by the Colombian steelmakers group Fedemetal, 791,600 tonnes of finished steel were produced between January and June this year - a 1.3% drop compared to the same period last year.

Longs output fell from 580,000 t to 567,000 t in the same comparison, a 2.2% decrease. However, flatrolled production showed a small increase in the same period, reaching 224,600 t, up from 222,400 t in the first half of 2007.

Publication: SBB - Steel Business Briefing
Provider: Steel Business Briefing
Date: September 4, 2008

2008-09-02

Colombia: US$6bn to be invested in power sector through 2019

The hydro projects include Pescadero-Ituango, Isagens 800MW Hidrosogamoso plant, Porce IV, El Quimbo, Miel II, Amoya and Cucuana to be constructed in the departments of Cordoba, Magdalena, Tolima, Caldas, Antioquia, Santander and Huila. Colombia already has added 135MW of capacity to its national grid since 2007. New projects under construction will add 713MW and include the Mayaguez thermo plant and the Anaime, Caruquia and Porce III hydro plants.

The minister highlighted a recent power auction hosted by wholesale power regulator XM and said the countrys power needs were guaranteed until 2019. Colombias government, meanwhile, declared this week the Pescadero-Ituango and Porce IV projects to be in the public interest. Developers now will be able to begin eminent domain procedures to acquire the needed lands, the presidential press office announced. The 2.4GW Pescadero-Ituango project is planned for the north of Antioquia department and will flood 3,800ha. Medellin-based multi-utility EPM has a 44.4% stake in the project. Antioquias development institute IDEA controls 42.4%, with the remaining share divided among other government agencies and shareholders.

Publication: Euclid Infotech - Utilities News
Provider: Euclid Infotech
Date: September 1, 2008

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