Cemex Colombia investigates alternative power sources

Cemex is interested in landfill biogas, wind and solar energy sources in Colombia and evaluates projects of US$50m (EUR36.9m) for the next five years, Colombian daily El Tiempo said last week. Cemex wants to guarantee 100 per cent of its power supply in the country, compared to 65 per cent now.

The Mexican multinational currently operates three small hydroelectric stations in Colombia and a gas-fired plant with a capacity to produce 210GWh a year in Colombia's Junin, Bucaramanga and Ibague municipalities.

The company will look for partners among financial entities and investment funds, Edgar Angeles, vice president of operations for Central, South America and the Caribbean, said in an interview.

Since Colombia's law on renewable energy came into force, the company has been studying projects of this type. The law allows the firms to invest in their own power supply and sell a surplus on the wholesale market.