Small Decentralized Hydropower Program National ... - Cd3wd.com

Microcentrales para la
Genera&h HidroeMctrica en
el Area Rural
Carlos ‘hdela
Bolivia se confronta un reto cuando trata de
disminuir su vulnerabilidad a 10s efectos de 10s
escalantes costos de combustible. La poblacion esta
ampliamente dispersa a lo largo de tres zonas
geogrrificas bien distintas. El Sr. Carlos Tudela
presenta intentos que estan en proceso al presente
para aumentar el uso de la energia basada en la
hidroelectricidad.
El territorio de la republica de Bolivia es muy ex-
tenso y su densidad de poblacion es muy baja, lo que
implica que las poblaciones en el area rural Sean rnuy
pequefias y disantes unas de otras, lo que a su vez da
lugar a que sus consumes de carga Sean muy
reducidas.
Debe tambien considerarse que la geografia de
Bolivia es muy heterogenea y en muchas zonas 10s
accidentes topogr&ficos son muy acentuados lo que
hate imposible, ya por dificultades tecnicas, ya por
problemas economicos, interconectar estos pequerios
consumidores a 10s grandes sistemas electricos.
El Instituto National de Electrification Rural, ha
estado encarando estos problemas en la medida de
sus posibilidades proporcionando a estos pequenos
centros poblados energia electrica a partir de
pequenas centrales termicas. Sin embargo, en 10s
ultimos arias se ha modificado sustanciaimente la
politica energetica debido a la crisis national de
hidrocarburos existente y las entidades de gohierno
han determinado restringir proyectos con generation
t&mica.
Una situation de esta naturaleza requiere solu-
ciones adecuadas a la problematica planteada. Por
esta razon se ha enfocado la solution de1 problema
recurriendo al aprovechamiento de otros recursos
energeticos y se pretende dar mayor importancia al
empleo de microcentrales hidroelectricas que per-
mitan la ejecucion de proyectos que requieran
reducidas inversiones y satisfagan las necesidades
particulares existentes.
Otras Caracteristicas
Debemos tambien considerar que en Bolivia existen
tres zonas geograficas bien definidas y que son la
in Rural Areas
Carlos Tudela
Bolivia is finding itself in a challenging posi-
tion as it attempts to lower its vulnerability to the
effects of increasing fuel costs. The population is
widely dispersed across three distinct
geographical zones. Mr. Carlos Tudela discusses
attempts that are currently underway to increase
the use of hydroelectric based energy.
The geographic area comprising the Republic
of Bolivia is very extensive with a low population
density. For this reason, towns in rural areas are
quite small and widely dispersed with correspon-
ding reduced electrical consumption. At the
same time, it must be noted that the geography
of Bolivia is very heterogeneous and in many
zones topographic variations are very sharp. This
makes it imoossible, either due to technical or
economic problems, to link these communities to
large power plants.
The National Institute of Rural Electrification
has been facing these problems to the best of its
ability by offering electric energy from small ther-
mal powerplants to these sparsely populated
centers. Notwithstanding, in the last few years
energy poiicy had been modified substantially
due to the existing national hydrocarbon crisis
with governmental entities determined to restrict
thermal generating projects.
A situation of this nature calls for adequate
solutions targeted to the problems under con-
sideration. Efforts are presently being focused on
taking advantage of other energy resources with
greater emphasis on the use of small thermal
powerplants which will make it possible to carry
out projects requiring small investments but
which would still meet specialized existing
needs.
Other Characteristics
It must be borne in mind that there are three
well-defined geographic zones in Bolivia: the
“altiplano” (“high plateaus”) and the “cor-
dillerana” (Andean Ridge), the valley region and
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