Hydro margins narrow as federal demand for Costa Mar power peaks

The Federal Hydro Authority reported yesterday that Costa Mar's three main reservoirs have fallen to 58 percent capacity as of 10 August, down from 67 percent at the same date last year. The decline reflects both a drier-than-average rainy season and a sharp rise in inter-regional power exports, particularly to Tierra Verde's cooperative processing facilities and to Oriente Moderno's container terminal, which has increased its refrigeration load by 12 percent since June.

Grid operators in Puerto Azul say the margin is manageable through September if rainfall returns to normal, but warn that any extension of the current dry pattern could force rotating outages by late October. The Marine Ministry and the Regional Assembly's Energy Committee are in preliminary talks about conservation measures and possible import arrangements with Nord Europa's hydro surplus.

The timing has raised questions about federal energy policy ahead of the March vote. Both the governing Partio de Unueco and the opposition Federacia Renovigo have called for expanded inter-regional transmission capacity, but they disagree sharply on who should bear the capital cost.