Nicaragua Seeks Bids on Energy From Largest Volcano (San Cristobal)

June 19 (Bloomberg) -- Nicaragua plans to open its largest volcano to geothermal exploration as record oil prices force the government to seek new sources of energy.

Concessions to extract energy from the San Cristobal Volcano, which has the largest energy potential of the country's 12 geothermal sites, will be put up for bid, Nicaragua's Energy Ministry said. The government will consider offers of least $30,000 made before July 31, according to a statement posted on the Energy Ministry Web site today.

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About 80 percent of Nicaragua's electricity is supplied by fuel-burning power plants. The country has suffered 4-hour-a day blackouts since oil soared to record prices in May.

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The San Cristobal volcano, with 225 megawatts of potential, could power half of Nicaragua' energy needs, according to the Energy Ministry.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=arPvPCpZfq.U&refer=latin_america

looks awfully risky to me

They do a lot of geothermal, and their entire country is volcanic. Current geothermal is done where magma is at least close to the surface, since that's where you get the juiciest thermal gradients.

I'm kind of interested in the idea of just drilling down a few kilometers in geologically inactive regions, but I don't know how hard the greater depth and smaller thermal gradients hit the effectiveness and cost.

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:shrug:

I can practically see two MAJOR volcanoes from my house, and then there are all kinds of little cinder cones and other volcanic features. Hell, if by trashing 1% of Lassen Volcanic National Park they could power the north state, that might be worth it. :shrug:

Well, depending on what the 1% is. :P

Costa Rica is, by far, the most civilized country in Central America.

The Miravelles plant has operated for years.

Costa Rica burns almost no dangerous fossil fuels for electricty production. It has significant hydroelectric capacity as well.