The construction of Ikotia begins: the first solar park of Frontera Energy, with the support of Enel X

• The Ikotia solar park will have an installed capacity of 7.85 MWp and will generate 11.3 GWh per year, which will be used to power the operations of the CPE-6 field, located in Puerto Gaitán, Meta.

• With an investment of over USD $7.5 million, the park will have more than 16,800 solar panels, distributed over 8 hectares of land, aiming to avoid the emission of 8,215 tons of CO2, equivalent to planting more than 500,000 trees per year.

• For its development, 60% of the contracted personnel are women, in order to leverage gender equity and promote the economic development of the area.

Frontera Energy is developing its first solar park located in the CPE-6 field in Puerto Gaitán Meta, with the support of Enel X, a business line of Enel Colombia, responsible for the design, construction, and assembly. The Ikotia solar park, which in the dialect of the Sikuani ethnicity means “sun rays,” will have an installed capacity of 7.85 MW and will generate 11.38 GWh/year, equivalent to providing energy to more than 56,000 homes with an average consumption of 200 kWh per month. The generated energy will be connected to the medium voltage grid to power the operations of the field, located in production facilities, such as injection, crude oil and water treatment; as well as for its offices.

With an investment of over USD $7.5 million, the park will have more than 16,800 solar panels, grouped into 402 photovoltaic tables, and will be distributed over eight hectares of land. Among the benefits that energy self-generation brings to Frontera Energy are: the reduction of risks in the energy market, savings in energy consumption, resilience against interruptions in the electrical grid, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. On this occasion, the Ikotia solar park aims to avoid the emission of 8,215 tons of CO2, equivalent to planting more than 500,000 trees per year.

In line with the social management plan and sustainability strategies, Frontera Energy and Enel X set the challenge of implementing programs that seek to enhance social, environmental, and economic development benefits for the communities in the area of influence. One notable result is the majority hiring of female personnel, which to date exceeds 60%, who mainly work in the design and assembly of solar panels. Meanwhile, the percentage of contracted personnel from the area is 85%, including qualified professionals in environmental, quality, social, administrative areas; and unqualified personnel, in project development, warehouse, among others.

Orlando Cabrales Segovia, CEO of Frontera Energy, stated “As part of our sustainability strategy, we are undertaking different actions aimed at contributing to the fight against climate change. One of them is the construction of our first solar park in the CPE-6 block in order to reduce emissions. We are very proud of this project that contributes to the well-being of the communities and the environment, while also creating value.”.  

For its part, Carlos Mario Restrepo, manager of Enel X, Enel Colombia's business line, stated that “As leaders in the market, we are proud to be allies of Frontera Energy in the construction of its first solar park, which will start operating in the last quarter of this year. With this initiative, among others that we have in development, we continue to bet on leveraging decarbonization and energy transition in different sectors of the economy, which also join the commitment to use energy from renewable and non-polluting sources, which become cost-efficient solutions for companies.”.  

With this project, Frontera Energy reaffirms its commitment to sustainability initiatives that contribute to reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment, as well as leveraging its energy transition process. Meanwhile, Enel X continues to establish itself as an ally of energy efficiency with self-generation solutions using unconventional energy sources. Its support ranges from project design; management, administration, and maintenance; as well as storage systems with batteries.