CELEC Has No Awards Across 205 MW Emergency Thermal Rental Pipeline
CELEC's emergency thermal rental pipeline is not converting into awarded capacity.
Procurement Status
Primicias reports that Corporacion Electrica del Ecuador (CELEC) planned to contract 205 MW in rented thermal generation to mitigate the risk of power cuts in 2026. As of May 22, 2026, none of the recent processes had reached award.
| Project | Capacity | Status reported by Primicias |
|---|---|---|
| Pascuales | 50 MW | Declared deserted, then relaunched |
| Jaramijo | 15 MW | Declared deserted on May 6 |
| Miraflores | 25 MW | Declared deserted on May 20 |
| Santa Elena | 45 MW | Delayed; should already have been awarded |
| Guangopolo | 10 MW | Delayed; should already have been awarded by May 18 |
| Salitral | 60 MW | Not yet launched in Sercop |
Primicias reports that the Jaramijo process received 19 offers, but all were disqualified for not meeting minimum requirements. Miraflores received seven offers, with the same result.
Process Risks
According to Primicias, the failed Jaramijo and Miraflores processes had common issues. Sercop observations flagged proformas submitted without proper electronic signatures or responsibility signatures, and some providers did not detail execution-stage timelines.
The report also says most disqualifications were tied to bid seriousness guarantees, supplier-registration eligibility, or experience being credited as construction or supply rather than rental-service experience.
CELEC has relaunched only the Pascuales 50 MW process so far. Primicias reports that the relaunched process has a budget of $77.1 million and is scheduled for award by Friday, May 29.
Business Implications
| Issue | Signal |
|---|---|
| Capacity gap | The 205 MW emergency rental package has not become contracted supply. |
| Procurement execution | Technical eligibility and document-compliance issues are preventing awards. |
| Supplier opportunity | Pascuales remains active, but other packages require procedural recovery. |
| Grid risk | Delays reduce the buffer available before dry-season stress. |
What to watch
- Whether Pascuales is awarded by May 29.
- Relaunch decisions for Jaramijo and Miraflores.
- Progress on delayed Santa Elena and Guangopolo files.
- Whether Salitral's 60 MW process enters Sercop.
Source: Primicias
Source
Primicias — "Ecuador: Celec no logra adjudicar contratos de generación termoeléctrica para mitigar el riesgo de cortes de luz en 2026"
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