Colombia’s Mining and Energy Planning Unit, Upme, has awarded the new Aguaclara 230 kV substation and associated transmission lines to Grupo Energía Bogotá through its subsidiary Enlaza. The project will add infrastructure in Casanare and connect it to the National Interconnected System.
An integrated award covers the project lifecycle
The award is not limited to construction of a substation. It covers the design, supply of materials and equipment, construction, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the associated works. For procurement professionals, this is a bundled project award: one appointed entity is responsible for a chain of activities that runs from design through the asset’s operating phase. The source does not provide details of the bidding field, evaluation criteria or the value of the award, so the confirmed finding is the appointment of GEB, acting through Enlaza, rather than the terms of any competing offers.
The infrastructure will be built in Casanare
The centrepiece is a new Aguaclara 230 kV substation in the municipality of Sabanalarga, in the department of Casanare. The project also includes two new 230 kV double-circuit transmission lines. One will connect Aguaclara to the Chivor II substation through a line of approximately 28 kilometres. The other will connect Aguaclara with the Alcaraván 230 kV substation through a line of approximately 105 kilometres. Together, the links represent close to 133 kilometres of new transmission lines, giving the award a regional network scope rather than a standalone site-development focus.
Delivery is tied to the national expansion plan
Aguaclara forms part of the Reference Generation-Transmission Expansion Plan 2022-2036, placing the award within Colombia’s longer-term electricity planning framework. Entry into operation is scheduled for 31 December 2030. Fredy Zuleta, Enlaza’s general manager, said the company received the award with satisfaction and that it reflected confidence in its technical and operational capacity. He also said Grupo Energía Bogotá would continue developing infrastructure aligned with national energy planning and intended to support the reliability and strengthening of Colombia’s electricity system.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Awarding authority | Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética (Upme) |
| Awarded entity | Grupo Energía Bogotá through its subsidiary Enlaza |
| Main asset | Aguaclara 230 kV substation |
| Location | Sabanalarga, Casanare |
| Transmission line to Chivor II | Approximately 28 kilometres |
| Transmission line to Alcaraván | Approximately 105 kilometres |
| Combined new lines | Close to 133 kilometres |
| Planned entry into operation | 31 December 2030 |
The adjudication covers the design, supplies, construction, tests, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the associated works.
WHY IT MATTERS
The award illustrates how a public energy infrastructure procurement can combine design, supply, construction, commissioning and long-term operation and maintenance in one package. Suppliers assessing similar opportunities should distinguish the full lifecycle scope from the physical construction element: here, the appointed entity is responsible for the substation, two transmission connections and the associated operating phase.
Reported from larepublica.co, 2026-09-22. The Tender Wire is published by Otnox.
