Costa Rica News – ICE has publicly admitted having its numbers in red. The forecasted loss this year is ¢314,000 million. This is due mainly to two problems, the impact of the exchange rate accounts for 46% of the total and then most of the rest is from low demand for energy. So basically people are not using electricity and the recent exchange rate fluctuation are the blame….typical Ticos blaming anything but themselves.
The executive president, Irene Cañas, announced a new policy of accountability and transparency that she wants to implement.
As part of the plan to clean up its finances, ICE has decided to end the El Diquís project. $146 million has already been spent on it but it will be left undone because it is unnecessary. The project has been paralyzed for seven years and the energy needed to meet the needs of the country is already being produced elsewhere. The Borinquen and San Antonio projects will also been cancelled. They have not been able to provide energy for years.
ICE is waiting for Aresep to analyze a proposed adjustment of a 13% increase to electricity bills starting in 2019. In the coming weeks, ICE will present its strategy for 2019-2023 focused on sustainability and transparency.
Another change is that as part of the country’s efforts to decarbonise the economy, ICE will recycle its facilities in Moín. It will dismantle the tanks and equipment there to recycle them since they have not been used for years.
