The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has presented a comprehensive development plan (Plan de desarrollo integral) for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, dubbed the Central American "Marshall Plan" and aimed at developing those countries to limit emigration.
The plan aims at consolidating the power interconnection systems of Central American countries (SIEPAC) for a total investment of US$165m and at promoting its interconnection with Mexico for an estimated investment of US$300m. It also aims at diversifying energy mixes by focusing on local and renewable energy sources, at improving cooperation in terms of energy efficiency and regulations, and at lowering energy prices.
The plan promotes the development of regional gas infrastructures, including a gas terminal in Puerto Cortes in Honduras and its related 300 MW gas-fired power plant (total cost of US$1.2bn) and the construction of a 600 km-long gas pipeline between southern Mexico and Central America to deliver excess gas from North America and to lower prices. The proposed gas pipeline would connect Coatzcoalcos on the Gulf of Mexico to Salina Cruz on the Pacific coast in Mexico. It would then follow the Pacific coast to Puerto Chapas (Mexico), San Jose (Guatemala), Acajutla (Salvador) and San Lorenzo (Honduras), before turning north to San Pedro Sula on Honduras' Carribean coast.
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