Interconexión Electrica S A E S P : The ISA Group delivers equipment to reinforce the energy system in Eastern Colombia

• ​The Ocaña Substation's second transformer will increase the transformation capacity for a more reliable energy transmission service in the region.

• ISA will obtain annual revenues of USD 1.49 million from the operational start-up of this equipment.

• The equipment started operating 22 days before the deadline set by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

The ISA Group, through its affiliate ISA INTERCOLOMBIA, put the second 360 MVA transformer into operation at the Ocaña 500/230 kV Substation, thus completing this Northern Santander Substation's expansion project to deliver higher levels of security and reliability to the regional energy system.

This project is part of the Expansion Plan for the 2015-2029 Generation-Transmission Reference by the Energy Mining Planning Unit - UPME, which had been awarded to ISA on June 14, 2018, and which will provide annual revenues of approximately USD 1.49 million.

What was the project about?

It comprised the installation of an autotransformer bank at the Ocaña Substation, including a reserve unit; two transformation bays at 500 kV and 230 kV, respectively; and a 230-kV connection between the new autotransformer bank and the Substation.

To continue with the equipment assembly process in spite of the limitations caused by the pandemic, ISA INTERCOLOMBIA relied on its digital transformation and innovation processes, like remote supervision of the transformer on-field assembly by the manufacturer, which allowed proper compliance with the work schedule.

Social management

The Community Information and Participation Program (PIPC), as well as solidarity actions in pandemic times were developed, for which around COP 84 million were invested. This included the delivery of medical supplies and equipment to the Emiro Quintero Cañizales de Ocaña hospital and food for 25 families of the Quebrada El Rosal district, within the framework of the Todos Somos Uno program. The next steps include socialization activities, environmental awareness workshops, and executing a Community Benefit Project in the Quebrada El Rosal district.

According to the ISA's CEO, Bernardo Vargas Gibsone, 'we continue to take part in the development of the country thanks to energy transmission as an essential service delivered to Colombians through projects that improve the reliability of the National Interconnected System.'

For his part, Luis Alejandro Camargo Suan, ISA INTERCOLOMBIA's CEO, highlighted that 'the company put the project into operation 22 days before the deadline set by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, meeting our goals with quality and efficiency.'

Other projects in progress

Through ISA INTERCOLOMBIA, the ISA Group continues to expand the national energy infrastructure by developing other six projects for which an investment of around USD 1 billion was made, covering approximately 2.000 km of new transmission circuits, which will allow it to grow its network by 18%.