What it costs to switch the plant on.

In practice most industry self-supplies from its own mechanical well and tops up with municipal service (EMPAGUA in the capital), private suppliers (Agua Mariscal) or bulk water. More than 2,000 wells are estimated in the Guatemala valley, of which only about 300 are exploited under controlled conditions by companies or public bodies. There is no national well registry and no metering of extraction, a weakness acknowledged by EMPAGUA/MGCS's own Water Security Strategy (2024). The figures were checked against the PDF in the audit of 2026-08-22.

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Pozos estimados en el valle de Guatemala>2,0002024 (estrategia EMPAGUA/MGCS)

Pozos explotados de forma controlada por empresas u organismos públicos~3002024 (estrategia EMPAGUA/MGCS)

The fee and license for drilling each mechanical well (urban or rural) is set municipality by municipality under the Municipal Code and the schedules of fees; there is no national tariff. Infile's compilation of municipal rules shows, for example, the drilling license fee of the Guatemala City municipality (Municipal Agreement 11-05-1995), of San José Pinula (Minute 33-94.3) and of San Lucas Sacatepéquez (Minute 019-94), but with no amounts in the index. The cost for each target municipality (Guatemala, Villa Nueva, Mixco, Escuintla, San José Pinula) is recorded as 'not found': it has to be gathered at each municipality's single window.

amounts are not public in the source; to be gathered municipality by municipality

The Environmental Assessment, Control and Follow-up Regulation (AG 137-2016, as amended) requires an environmental form or diagnostic according to the project's category, and the municipality asks for the approved instrument before licensing the drilling. According to the official catalog of procedures, a category C environmental license costs Q50 per year (Q50 to Q250 for 1-5 years; resolution in 3-10 days) and category CR instruments, predictive and corrective alike, cost Q50 (5 days). Categories A/B1/B2 cost more: the published range runs 'from Q50.00 up to Q35,000.00' (La Hora, 1 Dec 2022). The audit corrected earlier figures (Q100/Q150 attributed to Aprende Guatemala, which does not contain them). The text as amended by AG 317-2019 remains to be confirmed as regards timelines.

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Licencia ambiental categoría CQ50 por año (Q50-Q250 por 1-5 años); resolución 3-10 díascatálogo oficial, consultado 2026-08-22

Instrumentos ambientales categoría CR, predictivos y correctivosQ50; 5 díascatálogo oficial, consultado 2026-08-22

Rango de costo de licencias ambientales (todas las categorías)Q50 a Q35,0001-dic-2022

Not documented. The dossier had recorded a requirement for a prior opinion from AMSCLAE in order to drill wells in the Atitlán basin, attributed to the Infile compilation; the audit of 2026-08-22 found that this page lists only municipal fees for Guatemala, San José Pinula and San Lucas Sacatepéquez, and the requirement was downgraded to 'not found'. It is a potential territorial restriction, today with no documentary support; it remains to be investigated in AMSCLAE's own rules or ruled out.

not found in the source cited; to be investigated in AMSCLAE's rules

Wells in the metropolitan area run from 25 to more than 600 m deep (a Funcagua estimate cited by Agencia Ocote, 6 Aug 2024), and EMPAGUA today drills wells 'at least 1,800 feet deep' (Prensa Libre, 6 Jul 2026). In the northern part of the valley the water table is falling at an 'average rate of approximately 9 m/year': 8 m/year in Lavarreda-Rodeo, 11 in Vista Hermosa and Canalitos and 7 in the North sector, across 32 monitored wells with 4-10 years of records (a 2013 ERIS-USAC study). The operating consequence is re-drilling and higher pumping costs. The audit corrected the attribution of the depth figure (previously to ERIS-USAC, which does not contain it).

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Profundidad de pozos, área metropolitana25 a >600 m2024 (estimación Funcagua)

Profundidad de los pozos nuevos de EMPAGUAal menos 1,800 piesjul-2026

Descenso promedio del nivel freático, norte del valle~9 m/año (Lavarreda-Rodeo 8; Vista Hermosa y Canalitos 11; Norte 7)2013, 32 pozos con 4-10 años de registro

water-table study from 2013; no later series located

Yes. The IARNA-URL/TNC balance cited by EMPAGUA (the study 'Bases técnicas…', published in 2013 with 2012 data) estimates average exploitation of 502.3 Mm³/year against available recharge of 139.8 Mm³/year: a deficit of 362.5 Mm³/year, meaning 3.59 times the recharge is extracted. By sub-basin, Las Vacas extracts 40.1 times its recharge and Villalobos 11.3 times. The figures were checked against the text of the EMPAGUA/MGCS PDF on 2026-08-22. No more recent official balance by basin was located; whether the 'Proceso Nacional del Agua' (2025) published new data remains to be confirmed.

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Explotación promedio del acuífero metropolitano502.3 Mm³/añodatos 2012 (estudio 2013)

Recarga disponible139.8 Mm³/añodatos 2012 (estudio 2013)

Déficit362.5 Mm³/añodatos 2012 (estudio 2013)

Extracción sobre recarga3.59× (Las Vacas 40.1×; Villalobos 11.3×)datos 2012 (estudio 2013)

2012-2013 data; no later official balance located

EMPAGUA manages some 4.0 m³/s against metropolitan demand of about 6 m³/s, a deficit of about 1.8 m³/s (an EMPAGUA figure for 2020). The mix is about 58% groundwater and 42% surface water according to EMPAGUA's 2017 balance, against a historical split of roughly 50/50; the Xayá-Pixcayá transfer, with a design flow of 3.0 m³/s, brings water from Chimaltenango to the Lo de Coy plant. The municipalities of the Mancomunidad Gran Ciudad del Sur depend on 6 springs and 163 municipal wells (about 1.86 m³/s); the MGCS total runs around 7.55-7.94 m³/s, including some 1.55 m³/s from private wells. Bulk water (Pentagua, Magdalena del Mar and others) is sold wholesale to EMPAGUA and municipalities, and the model is available to large users as well, with no public prices.

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Oferta EMPAGUA~4.0 m³/s2020

Demanda metropolitana~6 m³/s (déficit ~1.8 m³/s)2020

Mezcla subterránea / superficial58% / 42%Balance 2017 de EMPAGUA

Caudal de diseño del trasvase Xayá-Pixcayá3.0 m³/sdiseño

Fuentes municipales MGCS6 manantiales y 163 pozos (~1.86 m³/s)2024 (estrategia)

Total MGCS incluidos pozos privados7.55-7.94 m³/s (privados ~1.55 m³/s)2024 (estrategia)

the bulk water price is not public

It does not guarantee it. The Public Water Service Regulation (Agreement COM-56-2023 of the Guatemala City Municipal Council, published in the Diario de Centro América on 21 Dec 2023) states in art. 1 that the service is provided 'according to EMPAGUA's availability, as a function of infrastructure and the availability of the water resource', with metered or unmetered service and categories set by the classification of the property (art. 1 verified on 2026-08-22). Piped water is cheap in regional terms (Q4-14/m³, roughly US$0.5-1.8/m³), but EMPAGUA does not assure feasibility for large new demands; that is why every large plant is designed around its own well plus storage.

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Costo del agua por red, rango observadoQ4-14/m³ (≈US$0.5-1.8/m³)2024-2025

It is a private water supplier in the capital that has operated 'since 1928' according to its own site, with 18 wells of its own in zones 1-13 (Con Criterio) and a service that 'comes to about 5% of the population' of the area served by EMPAGUA (EMPAGUA/MGCS). It charges Q7.85/m³ for the first 20 m³ (Q157) and Q20/m³ above that; a residential connection costs Q3,500 (Sep 2025 reference). It serves residential customers and developments. The audit corrected earlier data ('since 1927-28; 20-25% of the population').

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Tarifa Agua Mariscal, primeros 20 m³Q7.85/m³ (Q157)sep-2025

Tarifa de excesoQ20/m³sep-2025

Conexión residencialQ3,500sep-2025

Pozos propios18 (zonas 1-13)sep-2025

Cobertura~5% de la población del área EMPAGUA2024 (estrategia)

press figure; residential reference

Grupo Rosul (private) charges Q5.83/m³ (18 m³ for Q105, Sep 2025), a residential reference. Community systems charge around Q4.00/m³: Pérez Guisasola (zona 10 of Mixco), with consumption above 30 m³ charged at Q10/m³; Condado Bosques de San Nicolás II (zona 4 of Mixco) charges Q30/m³ above the allowance; Chuisuc (Cantel) applies a flat rate of Q15 a month (verified 2026-08-22). According to a MARN figure, 76% of the country's water providers are community committees, 16% municipalities and 8% private. All the figures come from the Con Criterio report of 24 Sep 2025.

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Grupo RosulQ5.83/m³ (18 m³ por Q105)sep-2025

Sistema comunitario Pérez Guisasola, Mixco~Q4.00/m³; exceso >30 m³ a Q10/m³sep-2025

Condado Bosques de San Nicolás II, Mixco — excesoQ30/m³sep-2025

Chuisuc, Cantel — tarifa planaQ15/messep-2025

Proveedores de agua por tipo76% comités comunitarios / 16% municipalidades / 8% privadosdato MARN citado sep-2025

press figures; residential references

It is the worst area for water-intensive industry. In the eastern dry corridor (Chiquimula, Zacapa, El Progreso, Jutiapa) rainfall runs 400-500 mm a year in parts of Jocotán and Camotán, with recurrent droughts; Wikipedia records annual values 'below 500 mm' in the semi-arid areas of Zacapa, Chiquimula and El Progreso. The government is drawing up in 2026 a contingency plan against climate threats for the dry corridor (Infobae, 19 May 2026). The potential conflict is with domestic water use. The CNB source proved inaccessible during the audit.

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Precipitación en Jocotán y Camotán400-500 mm/añoreferencia CNB

Precipitación en zonas semiáridas de Zacapa, Chiquimula y El Progreso<500 mm/añosíntesis Wikipedia

CNB inaccessible during the audit; rainfall to be verified against INSIVUMEH

The Northern Transversal Strip and the north of Huehuetenango, Quiché and Alta Verapaz record up to about 5,550 mm a year, the highest in the country: surface abundance, though this is also the area of the hydroelectric conflicts (Oxec, the Cahabón river). Petén and northern Alta Verapaz receive 1,000-2,500 mm a year with rain almost all year round: water available, little infrastructure. The values are a synthesis of balances from Wikipedia (Hidrografía de Guatemala), verified in the audit but still to be checked against INSIVUMEH.

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Precipitación máxima, Franja Transversal del Nortehasta ~5,550 mm/añosíntesis Wikipedia

Precipitación en Petén y norte de Alta Verapaz1,000-2,500 mm/añosíntesis Wikipedia

a Wikipedia synthesis; verify against INSIVUMEH

The Pacific slopes (the Boca Costa) have high rainfall, but the south coast carries heavy irrigation demand (sugar cane, oil palm, bananas) with rivers diverted in the dry season: seasonal competition for surface water is intense. In 2018 the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office documented diversions of the Madre Vieja river by Grupo HAME (Mongabay, 2021). The technical source, the 'Recursos Hídricos' chapter of the SGCCC (Basterrechea & Guerra), returned a 403 during the audit of 2026-08-22 and could not be checked.

SGCCC not checked (403 during the audit)

The regulation obliges the generating entity to take at least two samplings a year, at its own cost, with analyzes matching the parameters in its technical study; the exact article still has to be pinned down against the official text (the MARN PDF did not respond during the audit and the citation rests on a Scribd copy; Consortium Legal, cited earlier, does not mention the frequency). Penalties are administrative and financial: the reference cited by Consortium Legal runs from US$10,000 to US$625,000, plus environmental criminal liability of 6 months to 10 years. Those ranges come from a private legal summary and must be verified against the Environmental Improvement Act (Decree 68-86) and its amendments.

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Frecuencia mínima de muestreo del ente generador2 muestreos/año, a su costavigente

Rango de multas de referenciaUS$10,000 a US$625,000referencia 2022

Responsabilidad penal ambiental6 meses a 10 añosreferencia 2022

the sampling article still to be pinned down; fine ranges from a private legal summary, to be verified against Decree 68-86

Low. Villa Nueva concentrates '150 plants… private and public' for treatment, of which only about 25% were working properly in 2017 (República, 15 May 2017). The Villalobos river basin 'contributes more than 95% of the water' reaching Lake Amatitlán, and the river carries 2.50 m³/s (2,500 L/s) of wastewater and 1.5 million tonnes of sediment a year (AMSA 2016, cited by EMPAGUA and República); the basin covers 14 municipalities and more than 2 million inhabitants (Prensa Libre, 17 Mar 2021). The claim that 'AMSA audited about 3,000 companies and 92% do not comply', which was in circulation, appears in none of the sources cited and was withdrawn in the audit; ask AMSA for its register of generating entities. For an entrant held to ESG standards the differential is large and visible.

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Plantas de tratamiento en Villa Nueva (privadas y públicas)~150; ~25% funciona bien2017

Aguas residuales transportadas por el río Villalobos2.50 m³/s (2,500 L/s)AMSA 2016

Sedimento transportado al lago1.5 millones de t/añoAMSA 2016

Aporte de la cuenca Villalobos al lago>95% del aguaAMSA 2016

Cuenca de Amatitlán14 municipios; >2 M habitantes2021

press figure (2017); no aggregate compliance figure found

In 2015 the overflow of REPSA's oxidation ponds (Grupo HAME, oil palm) contaminated 150 km of the La Pasión river in Sayaxché, Petén, with 'tonnes of dead fish'; the event was called an 'ecocide'. The figure of '>50 t' could not be verified (CONNECTAS was inaccessible during the audit; the press cites up to 70 t) and dossier 23 records about 160 km via Mongabay-EN 2015, still to be reconciled. Commercial consequence: Nestlé suspended purchases from REPSA in 2018 and lifted the suspension in October 2020. It is the harshest precedent of a water-industry conflict over surface-water contamination.

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Tramo del río La Pasión contaminado150 km (dossier 23: ~160 km)2015

Suspensión de compras de Nestlé a REPSA2018; levantada oct-20202018-2020

fish tonnage unverified; kilometers still to be reconciled (150 vs about 160)

It is a recurrent conflict on the south coast over diversions of the Madre Vieja river (Tiquisate) toward oil palm plantations: in 2018 the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office accused Grupo HAME of 'opening channels that diverted the waters of the Madre Vieja river', and in 2019 the same was alleged on the Suchiate river (Mongabay, 2021, verified 2026-08-22). The description of 'loss of subsistence fishing and irrigation; annual community mobilization' comes from CONNECTAS, which was inaccessible during the audit. It illustrates the dossier's pattern: conflicts break out where industry competes for visible surface water.

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Acusación de la PDH a Grupo HAME por desvío del Madre Vieja2018 (Suchiate: 2019)2018-2019

part of the account comes from CONNECTAS, inaccessible during the audit

In May 2007 a community consultation in 12 communities of San Juan Sacatepéquez returned 8,994 votes against the cement company and 4 in favor (verified 2026-08-22 in OCMAL). The conflict turned violent: 17 injured (2 seriously) on 3 July 2014 when the resistance in the El Puente sector was evicted; the audit corrected the date, previously given as '2013'. Water is among the territorial grievances. Sources: EJAtlas, OCMAL and GAIA/no-burn.org.

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Consulta comunitaria (12 comunidades)8,994 votos en contra vs 4 a favormay-2007

Heridos en el desalojo del sector El Puente17 (2 graves)3-jul-2014

The Supreme Court of Justice provisionally suspended the Oxec I/II licenses in an amparo action for failure to consult the Q'eqchi' people (ruling of 4 January 2017). The Constitutional Court (joined case files 90-2017, 91-2017 and 92-2017, 26 May 2017) allowed operations to continue, on condition that the consultation be held within 12 months. No source consulted invokes 'national interest' (the audit corrected that version; consistent with dossier 23 §2.1). The Q'eqchi' conflict persists: a community leader was convicted and released in 2022. SICA was unavailable during the audit of 2026-08-22.

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Suspensión provisional de licencias por la CSJ4-ene-20172017

Resolución de la CC (Exp. 90, 91 y 92-2017)26-may-2017: continuar operando, consulta en 12 meses2017

The Escobal silver mine (Minera San Rafael, Santa Rosa/Jalapa) was suspended in 2017 after protests and consultations; groundwater is among the Xinka people's concerns and the consultation remains unfinished. As of August 2026, 18 consultations with indigenous peoples over extractive projects are still pending (Prensa Comunitaria, 11 Aug 2026). The dossier's pattern: conflicts break out where industry competes for visible surface water (rivers) or where no consultation took place; the urban industrial well causes almost no social conflict, but it does carry the physical risk of exhausting the aquifer.

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Suspensión de Escobal20172017

Consultas a pueblos indígenas pendientes por proyectos extractivos18ago-2026

The model is an own source plus in-house treatment and reuse. Cervecería Centro Americana (Finca El Zapote, zona 2) reports 'a saving of 70% of the water in the industrial process' through recycling and consumption control, reusing water in other plant services; the earlier claim that it sited there for its own springs was withdrawn because the page does not mention it. CBC (the PepsiCo/AB InBev bottler) publishes water-efficiency and watershed programs in its sustainability reports (2021, 2022) and a sustainability-linked financing framework, but the ratio of liters of water per liter of beverage was not found in the open. The Coca-Cola System Guatemala reports water-replenishment projects with the Coca-Cola Foundation, with more than 10,000 beneficiaries (a promotional claim, 2025).

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Ahorro de agua en proceso, Cervecería Centro Americana70%afirmación corporativa, consultada 2026-08-19

Beneficiados por reposición de agua, Sistema Coca-Cola>10,0002025

corporate claims; the L/L ratio was not located

The model is an own well plus a mandatory treatment plant under AG 236-2006. The weaving-dyeing-finishing cluster (Villa Nueva, Mixco, the Pacific highway) operates in the Amatitlán basin on groundwater self-supply; the sector documents new 2024 investments in spinning mills, textiles and dyeing (Vestex; PRONACOM). Compliance context: only about 25% of Villa Nueva's roughly 150 treatment plants were working properly in 2017, and the Villalobos still receives 2.5 m³/s of wastewater; the '92% non-compliance' figure was withdrawn in the audit for want of a source. The ESG differential for an entrant is large and visible.

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Plantas de tratamiento de Villa Nueva que funcionan bien~25% de ~1502017

sector claims (Vestex/PRONACOM) not checked in the audit

The dominant model is to avoid water: free cooling and closed circuits. GTD (an operator with data centers in Chile, Peru and Colombia; the source mentions only Peru and 11 data centers in the region, not Guatemala) declares WUE = 0 across all its data centers, with air cooling and closed chilled-water circuits and no dependence on the grid or on wells: it is a regional design reference, not a local case. Tigo Business operates 'Fraijanes II' with a Tier III Certification of Design Documents from the Uptime Institute (the audit corrected 'Tier IV'); its water consumption is not disclosed, nor is that of Claro's data centers. The only Tier IV registered by Uptime in Guatemala is KIO/GUA (KIO Networks), design only. Given the overexploitation of the metropolitan aquifer, a hyperscaler using evaporative cooling would face physical and reputational risk; dry design is the de facto local standard.

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WUE declarado por GTD (Chile, Perú, Colombia)0afirmación corporativa, consultada 2026-08-19

Certificación de Tigo Fraijanes IITier III Certification of Design Documentsregistro Uptime, consultado 2026-08-22

Único Tier IV registrado en GuatemalaKIO/GUA (KIO Networks), solo en diseñoregistro Uptime, consultado 2026-08-22

GTD's WUE is a corporate, regional claim; local water consumption is not disclosed

Tabled on 3 Aug 2026 by a group of deputies with executive backing (La Hora, 4 Aug); it runs to 215 articles; the plenary took it up on 11 Aug 2026 and sent it to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee (Prensa Libre, 14 Aug). As of 17 Aug 2026 the committee still 'awaits transfer of the file', had set no timetable, and some deputies want it socialized before an opinion (La Hora, 17 Aug); the audit corrected an earlier version dating the referral to 11 Aug. The main criticism is centralization in a National Water Superintendency with little municipal participation; CACIF wants a technical working group. It would create the Superintendency, a rights register and a progressive fee on large users. Status: no timetable for an opinion; track it at congreso.gob.gt (search 6816).

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Presentación de la iniciativa 68163-ago-20262026

Extensión215 artículos2026

Conocida por el pleno y dirigida a la Comisión de Ambiente11-ago-20262026

Estado en comisiónsin expediente trasladado ni cronograma17-ago-2026

legal status to be confirmed; the bill has no committee opinion

Bill 6816 provides for registrable and transferable use licenses, a progressive fee on large users (10% in year 1 rising to 100% in year 7) and charges for commercial uses (power generation, commercial irrigation, beverages and food), according to statements by the Environment Minister, Patricia Orantes, reported by Con Criterio and the detail of the fee in No-Ficción. No unit amounts have been published. The dossier's recommendation is to model the fee as a future cost risk; today there is no national extraction fee.

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Canon progresivo a grandes usuarios10% año 1 → 100% año 7propuesta, ago-2026

amounts not defined; the bill has no committee opinion

Fifteen points remain open: EMPAGUA's commercial/industrial tariff by band; the cost of the municipal drilling license by municipality; the market price of drilling (Q per foot or Q per meter); the water-to-beverage ratio at CBC and Cervecería; AMSCLAE's rules on drilling in Atitlán; the exact ranges of fines under the penalty regime (Decree 68-86); the water consumption of the Tigo Fraijanes and Claro data centers; an official water balance by basin later than 2013; the national hydrogeological map with aquifer productivity (MAGA/INSIVUMEH); the tariffs of the private industrial parks (Michatoya, Zeta La Unión); compliance with AG 236-2006 in Amatitlán (AMSA's register); the article of AG 236-2006 that sets the two annual samplings; the magnitude of the La Pasión river ecocide (tonnes and km); the source of the phrase 'a 40-year debt'; and the text of AG 137-2016 as amended by AG 317-2019. Anyone who needs these data has to gather them from EMPAGUA, the municipalities, AMSA, AMSCLAE or the companies.

a list of gaps; no data point on this list is confirmed

The dossier proposes seven indicators: the EMPAGUA tariff by band and fixed charge (annually, or when an agreement is published, empagua.com); the fall in the water table at monitored wells in the valley, in m/year (annually, ERIS-USAC/EMPAGUA); the procedural status of Bill 6816 (monthly, Congress); monthly rainfall by station or region (INSIVUMEH, climate bulletins; INSIVUMEH also publishes intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves by region, 2026); generating entities with a current ETAR and AMSA audits in the Amatitlán basin (annually, MARN/AMSA); the metropolitan aquifer's exploitation-versus-recharge balance in Mm³/year (IARNA-URL/EMPAGUA, when a study is published); and active socio-environmental conflicts linked to water (quarterly, OCMAL/EJAtlas/Prensa Comunitaria).

Guatemala has no general water law — a '40-year constitutional debt' — and no systematic national registry or monitoring of groundwater extraction; municipalities run the urban systems and indigenous communities operate their own. For a plant, supply from its own well is handled today through municipal licenses and MARN environmental instruments, with no national extraction fee. There is no national public price list for drilling or for licenses: the regime and the cost per meter have to be established municipality by municipality, a task pending for the data phase.

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Ley general de aguasinexistente (deuda constitucional de 40 años)a agosto 2026

Canon nacional por extracción de pozono existea agosto 2026

well drilling and license costs: no public price list — establish municipality by target municipality

Initiative 6816, drafted by the executive (MARN) after the 'National Water Process' that took in more than 1,000 citizen proposals (November 2025), has 215 articles. It creates a Water Superintendency with functional, financial and administrative autonomy, which registers rights, issues use licenses (exclusive, renewable and transferable; water remains public property), sets extraction restrictions, charges fees and imposes penalties. The fee for large users is progressive: 10% in year 1 rising to 100% in year 7 (art. 53); it recognizes pre-existing uses, including indigenous and ancestral systems (arts. 24-25). Procedural status: the full Congress took it up and referred it to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee (exact date to be confirmed); CACIF has asked for a technical working group and deputies propose consulting on it before issuing an opinion.

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Artículos de la iniciativa 68162152026

Canon progresivo para grandes usuarios10% año 1 → 100% año 7 (art. 53)según texto de la iniciativa

Propuestas ciudadanas recibidas>1,000nov-2025

Estado legislativoremitida a Comisión de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales; sin dictamenagosto 2026

exact procedural status (date of referral to committee and timetable for an opinion) to be confirmed

Government Agreement 236-2006, the Wastewater Discharge and Reuse Regulation, in force since 12 May 2006, sets permissible limits and phased compliance stages; for generating entities the parameters have been mandatory since 2 May 2024. Government Agreement 285-2022 extended to 2 May 2025 the deadline for municipalities to comply with treatment systems; that extension applies to municipalities, not to industrial generating entities.

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AG 236-2006 vigente desde12-may-20062006

Cumplimiento obligatorio de parámetros para entes generadores2-may-20242024

Prórroga para municipalidades (AG 285-2022)2-may-20252025

The local market includes Hidromaster (32+ years; agricultural, industrial and residential wells, plus reverse osmosis), PERFOSONDA (founded in 1988; well drilling and completion), Hidroperforaciones (15+ years; drilling and maintenance, with rigs rated above 1,200 feet), and Aquaperforaciones, Soluciones Agro Hídricas and Hidrobombas (drilling and equipment); all of these are promotional claims from the companies' own sites, to be verified at tender. Prices per foot drilled are not public: they are quoted project by project according to depth, diameter and formation. The only public budget reference is a SEGEPLAN SNIP file for the construction and equipping of a state well. The dossier recommends obtaining 2-3 indicative quotes for an industrial well of 800-1,200 feet and 8-12 inches.

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Capacidad de equipos de Hidroperforaciones>1,200 piessitio propio, consultado 2026-08-19

prices are not public; promotional claims

ZOLIC (the Santo Tomás de Castilla Free Industry and Trade Zone) publishes the only 'industrial park' tariff found: about Q9.38/m³ plus a fixed charge of Q25.77 a month; the user buys their own meter. The page, however, returned a 404 error on both consultations (2026-08-19 and 2026-08-22) and the figures survive only in the search engine's indexed extract: confirm with ZOLIC before using them. The tariffs of the private industrial parks (Michatoya, Zeta La Unión and others) are not public; their administrations have to be contacted (see dossier 07).

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Tarifa de agua ZOLIC~Q9.38/m³ + Q25.77/mes cargo fijo; medidor a cargo del usuarioconsultado 2026-08-19 (extracto indexado)

page returning a 404 error; figures available only via a search-engine extract; private parks have no public prices

Suppliers identified (promotional claims from their own sites; capabilities and references to be verified): SynerTech, compact and containerized MBBR/MBR plants for industry, mining and oil, 35+ years; Ecodena, design, manufacture and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants, constructed wetlands, grease traps and hydrocarbon separators; Grupo Artifex, treatment plants and biodigesters aimed at complying with AG 236-2006; Bioingeniería, ETAR technical studies and environmental studies; ECOQUIMSA, an accredited water-analysis laboratory for AG 236-2006 compliance.

promotional claims; capabilities to be verified

For reverse osmosis and process water the dossier identifies Hidromaster, Aquasistemas, Pure Aqua (a U.S. company with projects in Guatemala, for instance a 4,500 GPD RO system installed in the country), Osmopura and Purimanantial, with industrial and commercial RO systems. Xylem Guatemala offers pumping and water solutions for data centers. Agua Pura Salvavidas (Cervecería Centro Americana) sells purified water and demineralized water in large refillable jugs, useful for light technical use. All of this is promotional; capabilities and references to be verified.

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Sistema RO de Pure Aqua instalado en Guatemala4,500 GPDsitio propio, consultado 2026-08-19

promotional claims; capabilities to be verified

The Renewable Energy Project Development Incentives Act, Decree 52-2003, was issued by Congress on 28 October 2003 (a date corrected in audit against the official text; 4 November was previously cited). For direct developers of renewable projects it grants: exemption from import duties (DAI) and consular charges on imports of machinery and equipment used exclusively for generation, and exemption from VAT (IVA) on those imports, both only during pre-investment and construction, which shall not exceed 10 years (art. 5.a); exemption from income tax (ISR) for 10 years from the Delivery Start Date, FIE (art. 5.b); and exemption from IEMA for 10 years from the FIE (art. 5.c; a tax now repealed). Technical qualification is processed with MEM and environmental permitting with MARN.

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Decreto 52-2003emitido por el Congreso el 28-oct-20032003

Exención DAI, cargas consulares e IVA en importación de equipodurante preinversión y construcción, máximo 10 años (art. 5.a)vigente

Exención de ISR10 años desde la FIE (art. 5.b)vigente

Exención de IEMA10 años desde la FIE (art. 5.c; impuesto derogado)vigente en texto

The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) sets policy and leads the sector; the National Electric Energy Commission (CNEE) regulates tariffs, standards and tenders; and the Wholesale Market Administrator (AMM), a private non-profit entity, operates the system and the market. Distribution to regulated users is in private hands: EEGSA and Energuate (DEOCSA + DEORSA). The legal framework is the General Electricity Act, Decree 93-96 of Congress (1996), and its implementing regulation (RLGE, 1997): generation and trading have been open to competition since 1996, while transmission and distribution are regulated activities awarded by public tender.

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Ley General de ElectricidadDecreto 93-96 del Congreso1996

Reglamento de la LGE (RLGE)19971997

It is a cost-based market: the AMM dispatches hour by hour on declared Variable Generation Cost (CVG), and the spot price — the Energy Opportunity Price (POE) — is set by the marginal unit. Alongside it run the term market (freely negotiated contracts), the opportunity market, capacity deviations, ancillary services (RRO, RRa, RF), the Regional Electricity Market (MER) and transactions with Mexico. Every wholesale market transaction settles in US$. Guatemala is a net exporter to the MER: between January 2022 and March 2025 its injections were 37.43% of the regional total and its withdrawals 10.62%.

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Inyecciones de Guatemala al MER (% del total regional)37.43%ene-2022 a mar-2025

Retiros de Guatemala del MER (% del total regional)10.62%ene-2022 a mar-2025

Moneda de liquidación del mercado mayoristaUS$vigente

The record peak demand of 2,204.22 MW was recorded on 8 April 2025; the press reported a rise of +6.7%, while the AMM report records +3.88% over the previous year's peak. Consumption by segment in 2025: distributors 61.0% (9,608.3 GWh); large users through traders 27.9% (4,399.0 GWh); large users participating directly 34.7 GWh; losses 3.0%; exports 7.0%. The term market covered 87% of transactions and the opportunity market 13%.

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Demanda máxima histórica2,204.22 MW8-abr-2025

Consumo distribuidores61.0% (9,608.3 GWh)2025

Consumo Grandes Usuarios vía comercializadores27.9% (4,399.0 GWh)2025

Consumo Grandes Usuarios participantes directos34.7 GWh2025

Pérdidas3.0%2025

Exportaciones (share del consumo)7.0%2025

Mercado a término vs. oportunidad87% / 13%2025

the +6.7% is a press figure; the AMM report is preliminary

In 2024, the dry reference year, hydro contributed 5,334 GWh (41%), mineral coal 2,720 GWh (21%), petroleum coke 1,656 GWh (13%) and biomass 1,593 GWh (12%), according to Guate en Datos using AMM data; these figures were obtained through search results and have yet to be checked against the AMM 2024 report. Local generation was 13,117.41 GWh and demand 13,496.29 GWh (AMM). According to MEM, 2024 recorded the highest peak average spot price since 1999: drought and high temperatures called on the most expensive plants.

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Hidroeléctrica5,334 GWh (41%)2024

Carbón mineral2,720 GWh (21%)2024

Coque de petróleo1,656 GWh (13%)2024

Biomasa1,593 GWh (12%)2024

Generación local13,117.41 GWh2024

Demanda13,496.29 GWh2024

2024 figures by resource taken from Guate en Datos via search — verify against the AMM 2024 report

Seasonality is strong and is best modeed as an operating risk. In May 2025, at the close of the dry season, coal supplied 29% of generation, hydro 24.2% and bunker fuel 15.2%; in October 2025, in the middle of the rainy season, hydro reached 66.3% (766.22 GWh). It is the thermal mix of the dry months that pushes the spot price up, as it did in 2024.

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Carbón / Hidro / Búnker29% / 24.2% / 15.2%mayo 2025

Hidro66.3% (766.22 GWh)octubre 2025

The CNEE sets base tariffs by seasonal year — the current one runs from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027 — and adjusts them each quarter in line with the distributors' actual energy purchase costs. The adjustment quarters are February–April, May–July, August–October and November–January. The final bill adds the municipal street-lighting levy, which varies by municipality, and the adjustments for the INDE contribution.

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Año estacional tarifario vigente1 mayo 2026 – 30 abril 20272026-2027

Trimestres de ajustefeb–abr, may–jul, ago–oct, nov–enevigente

Demand-based tariffs — BTDp and BTDfp on low voltage, MTDp and MTDfp on medium voltage — combine an energy charge (Q/kWh) with a capacity charge (Q/kW of demand); their exact values sit in each distributor's tariff schedule, which the CNEE exposes through its schedules app and its 'demand-user price calculator'. The research did not locate a consolidated PDF with the values in force, so the atlas cites no figures until the schedule is obtained; a direct query or scraping of the app has been logged as pending for the data phase. An operation with demand above 100 kW may alternatively leave the regulated tariff as a large user.

Q/kWh and Q/kW values not located — do not cite figures until the tariff schedule in force is obtained

Two routes coexist: the regulated PPAs that come out of the distributors' open tenders (the PEGs) and the freely negotiated bilateral contracts of the term market. A Firm Demand and Efficient Firm Supply obligation applies: every participant must back its demand with capacity contracts. Large users may also take part in the Interruptible Demand ancillary service, which is remunerated.

PEG-4-2022, awarded in August 2023, contracted ~399.27 MW for the guaranteed capacity block, entering operation between 2026 and 2028 under 15-year contracts. Prices came in below US$90/MWh on a monomic basis, with a record US$20.32/MWh in the energy-only bid. The project detail is in Resolution CNEE-196-2023, cited by the AMM.

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Potencia garantizada contratada PEG-4~399.27 MWadjudicada ago-2023; entrada 2026–2028

Plazo de contratos15 añosPEG-4-2022

Precio monómico< US$90/MWhPEG-4-2022

Precio récord solo energíaUS$20.32/MWhPEG-4-2022

PEG-5-2025 is the largest supply tender in the country's history. Its terms of reference were approved by Resolution CNEE-270-2024 (30 October 2024); it seeks ~1,400 MW of guaranteed capacity and associated energy, with supply from 1 May 2030; contracts run up to 15 years for new plants and up to 5 years for existing ones. The bidding rules and the evaluation manual are in Resolution CNEE-108-2025; EEGSA publishes the process documentation on its website.

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Potencia requerida PEG-5~1,400 MWsuministro desde 1-may-2030

Términos de ReferenciaResolución CNEE-270-202430-oct-2024

Plazo contratos (nuevas / existentes)hasta 15 años / hasta 5 añosPEG-5-2025

Bases y manual de evaluaciónResolución CNEE-108-20252025

The CNEE approved without objection the award of 57 projects from 33 companies, contracting 1,258 MW of the ~1,400 MW required (90%). The dominant technology was solar paired with batteries (BESS), with 26 projects awarded; the reported price is ~US$101/MWh, more than 10% below the distributors' current purchase prices. Energia Estrategica headlines that 1,242 MW of solar with storage dominate PEG-5. These are all press figures (Prensa Libre, Energia Estrategica) still to be checked against the award record.

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Proyectos / empresas adjudicadas57 proyectos / 33 empresasadjudicación abr-2026

MW contratados1,258 MW de ~1,400 MW (90%)adjudicación abr-2026

Proyectos solar + BESS adjudicados26adjudicación abr-2026

Precio reportado~US$101/MWh (>10% bajo precios actuales de compra)adjudicación abr-2026

Solar con almacenamiento (titular)1,242 MWPEG-5-2025

press figures — verify in the CNEE award record

Built or awarded to date: PET-01-2009 and PETNAC-2014 together came to more than 783 km of lines, 10 new substations and the expansion of 12 more, across 15 departments and 74 municipalities. The CNEE's current plans are the Transmission System Expansion Plan 2022–2052 and the PET 2024–2054. Under way alongside PEG-5 is PET-3-2025: ~440 km of lines and 14 new substations, a process opened on 23 April 2025, with a proposed 230 kV reinforcement in the south-eastern region. The figure of 'up to US$5,000 M in combined PEG-5 + PET-3 investment' is an unverified press claim.

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PET-01-2009 / PETNAC-2014>783 km de líneas; 10 subestaciones nuevas; 12 ampliadas; 15 departamentos; 74 municipioshistórico

PET-3-2025~440 km de líneas; 14 subestaciones nuevas; refuerzo 230 kV surorienteiniciado 23-abr-2025

Inversión conjunta PEG-5 + PET-3 (prensa)hasta US$5,000 M2025-2030

US$5,000 M in combined investment: press figure, verify

A toll (peaje) is the network cost paid by a user of the transmission system; absent agreement between the parties, the CNEE sets it (art. 64 of the General Electricity Act). The total toll in force in 2026 for the secondary system of ETCEE (INDE) is US$28,476,015.16 a year, broken down by region and system in Resolution CNEE-140-2026. Updates are piecemeal: Resolution CNEE-275-2026 (28 July 2026) added US$63,943.29/year to RECSA's toll for an accepted work. There are 15 transmission companies registered with the AMM, among them ETCEE-INDE, RECSA and TRELEC.

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Peaje total sistema secundario ETCEE (INDE)US$28,476,015.16/añovigente 2026

Adición al peaje de RECSAUS$63,943.29/añoResolución CNEE-275-2026, 28-jul-2026

Transportistas registrados15al 01-abr-2025

EEGSA was privatized in 1998: on 30 July 1998 the consortium Iberdrola Energia / TPS de Ultramar / EDP acquired 80% of the state's shares. Today it sits within EPM Guatemala, part of Grupo EPM (Medellin, Colombia). It distributes ~40% of the country's energy and covers Guatemala, Escuintla and Sacatepequez — the most industrialized departments — plus parts of Santa Rosa and Chimaltenango, with coverage above 99% in its area.

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Privatización de EEGSA80% de acciones estatales a Iberdrola / TPS de Ultramar / EDP30-jul-1998

Propietario actualEPM Guatemala (Grupo EPM, Medellín)vigente

Participación en la energía distribuida del país~40%vigente

Cobertura en su área>99%vigente

Energuate groups DEOCSA and DEORSA and covers the rest of the country outside EEGSA's area. In September 2023 I Squared Capital / Inkia Energy sold it to Threelands Energy Ltd, its fifth owner. The press cited ~2.5 million customers in 2023; the current audited figure has not been confirmed.

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Comprador de EnerguateThreelands Energy Ltd (quinto dueño)septiembre 2023

Clientes (prensa)~2.5 M2023

2.5 million customers: 2023 press figure, no current audited figure

A US$120 M (Q927 M) loan was approved for 1,900 km of distribution networks and 1,000 km of medium-voltage lines in Chiquimula, Peten, Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, Baja Verapaz, Quiche and Izabal; MEM puts the universal-coverage challenge at US$900 M or more. The national electricity coverage index (% of households, latest year) is published by MEM but was not verified in this session; it remains an outstanding data point.

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Préstamo electrificación ruralUS$120 M (Q927 M)aprobado, según MEM 2025

Alcance1,900 km redes de distribución; 1,000 km media tensión; 7 departamentossegún MEM 2025

Desafío de universalización≥US$900 Mestimación MEM 2025

national electricity coverage index: not verified in this session

The Distributed Renewable Generator (GDR) category covers plants under 5 MW; as of 1 April 2025 there were 64 GDRs registered with the AMM. According to Energia Estrategica, Guatemala has passed 200 MW installed between self-producers and GDRs; that is a press figure, still to be checked against the CNEE's GDR and UAEE Statistical Report 2020-2024. This dossier does not set out the procedural requirements for connecting self-generation.

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Umbral GDR<5 MWvigente

GDR habilitados64al 01-abr-2025

Instalado entre autoproductores y GDR (prensa)>200 MWsegún Energía Estratégica

200 MW: press figure — verify against the CNEE GDR/UAEE report

The Technical Standards for the Distribution Service (NTSD, Resolution CNEE 09-99, art. 23) require distributors to meet interruption frequency and duration indices, measured both across the network as a whole and per individual user; on transmission, forced and scheduled unavailability is assessed. EEGSA reports improvements in TIU, TTIK and SAIDI since 2019 through its Outage Management System, but does not publish current values on the page consulted. SAIDI/SAIFI values by distributor were not located: the CNEE points to its quality indicators and Statistical Compendia without figures on the page; looking for them in the most recent Compendium remains outstanding.

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Marco de calidad de distribuciónNTSD, Resolución CNEE 09-99, art. 23vigente

SAIDI/SAIFI por distribuidorano publicados en las páginas consultadas2026-08-19

SAIDI/SAIFI values not published on the pages consulted — look in the CNEE Statistical Compendium

The official installed capacity of the national grid by technology (2025) is in MEM's Indicative Generation System Expansion Plan 2026-2050 (PEIG), but mem.gob.gt blocked the automated download and the figure was not confirmed in a primary source; the press (Republica GT) mentions an 'effective capacity close to 3,400 MW'. The 2025 wholesale market unit costs — main and secondary tolls, RRO and capacity deviations in US$/kW-month — appear on p. 7 of the AMM 2025 Statistical Report, but text extraction scrambled the label-to-value match and the atlas does not cite them until the PDF is re-read. Both are declared gaps, pending the data phase.

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Capacidad efectiva (prensa)~3,400 MW2025-2026, según República GT

Cargos unitarios del mercado mayorista (peajes, RRO, DP en US$/kW-mes)pendientes de relectura del PDF2025

3,400 MW: press figure unconfirmed in a primary source; unit charges pending a re-reading of the AMM report

Production, consumption, peak demand, mix by resource and exchanges: the AMM Statistical Report (quarterly and annual); POE spot price: the AMM's operating results section (monthly and quarterly). Social and Non-Social tariffs: the CNEE's quarterly adjustment statements; demand-based tariffs: the CNEE schedules app. Registered large users: the AMM's Participant Services (by cut-off date). Installed capacity and electricity coverage: MEM (annual; coverage still to be located). Internet and mobile connections: DataReportal drawing on ITU and GSMA Intelligence (annual); speeds: the Ookla Speedtest Global Index (monthly). Status of the water law: Congress of the Republic, initiative 6816 (by event).