Shinno criticized Electro Oriente for failing to contract additional capacity since the emergency declaration took effect in 2024. The company operates generation, transmission and distribution functions in Iquitos, where private generator Genrent runs a thermal plant originally conceived for cold reserve and emergency use but now operating at full capacity to meet base load demand. Service interruptions in July 2026 stemmed from failures in Genrent’s generation system, exposing the fragility of the isolated grid arrangement.
The ministry will publish a supreme decree enabling COES to assume operational control of dispatch in Iquitos, removing control from Electro Oriente to facilitate competitive entry by new generators. Shinno acknowledged this measure as a short-term fix, with medium and long-term solutions centered on physical interconnection to the national grid.
Electro Oriente committed to securing 9 MW of additional capacity in Iquitos in the near term, with unit repowering projected to reach accumulated capacity of 32 MW by December 2026 to meet urban demand. In San Martín region, the utility will prioritize contracting 6.2 MW of near-term capacity to stabilize transmission and reinforce supply. Electro Oriente also pledged to accelerate clearing of servitude corridors in Lamas and Bajo Huallaga sectors to restore line operability and reduce risks from vegetation, winds and forest fires.
The utility serves Loreto, San Martín, Amazonas and northern Cajamarca regions. The ministry announced investments exceeding 325.7 million soles in Amazonas and Loreto, supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, to extend electricity access to 43 localities serving more than 29,000 residents. The ministry emphasized continued solar generation investments in Loreto and Ucayali, currently benefiting 57,400 residents in areas beyond grid reach.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
