Just one day after his participation in FES Guatemala, the Guatemalan government officially announced the departure of Juan Fernando Castro Martínez as Vice Minister of Energy, in a move that surprised the electricity sector and that already has a defined successor.
In a brief statement, the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that the official "had resigned from his position," although without specifying the reasons for the decision, and thanked him for his work over the past two years, a period during which he "led important projects and initiatives."
However, according to sources close to the process, this media outlet learned that the departure was due to differences with the Presidency regarding the way the official expressed himself in different public instances.
And everything indicates that the replacement will be Luis Arturo Mérida , an engineer with experience in geothermal energy, whose swearing-in would take place next Monday.
REVIVE FES GUATEMALA 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fQIrVqwZYk
In his last public appearance, during the FES Guatemala meeting, Castro outlined a technical vision of the challenges facing the Guatemalan electrical system.
During his speech, the then deputy minister referred to the recently awarded PEG-5 process, in which he positively assessed the result , but also raised warnings about the operational challenges involved in a matrix with a greater presence of variable generation.
“We looked at the event objectively: from a renewable energy perspective it was a success, but renewable energy has its risks,” he said.
Castro cited projections from the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) that anticipate a high probability of the El Niño phenomenon, with direct consequences on hydroelectric and solar power generation.
"The probability points to an El Niño effect with an 88% certainty," he stated.
REVIVE FES GUATEMALA 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fQIrVqwZYk
The official described the expected impacts: less water availability, lower photovoltaic efficiency due to cloud cover, and extreme temperatures that deteriorate both equipment and networks.
Along those lines, he stressed that the energy challenge cannot be limited solely to renewable goals, and added a particularly sensitive definition within the regional debate:
“Solar panels are a blessing, but they operate on a 12x7 schedule,” he said.
Castro also referred to the challenges that the transmission network will face with the new energy map that PEG-5 will leave behind.
He explained that some 700 MW of new generation will be concentrated in the south of the country, between Escuintla and Santa Rosa , a capacity that the current infrastructure will not be able to absorb.
Continue reading
Therefore, he anticipated the need to move forward with new high-voltage transmission works through bidding, with the aim of supporting the growth of the system and avoiding future bottlenecks.
The official also revealed that Guatemala was close to energy rationing during 2024.
REVIVE FES GUATEMALA 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fQIrVqwZYk
He explained that the situation coincided with operational problems in thermal generation and strong demand pressure resulting from the extreme heat.
“In Guatemala, in 2024, we didn’t have to ration—and not because we’re ‘macho’—but because the 400,000 V interconnection between Guatemala and Mexico served as support,” he stated.
According to Castro, Mexico contributed approximately 253 MW over three days , preventing supply restrictions.
It also revealed that the system used interruptible demand schemes to sustain supply during critical times.
“Last week demand reached 2400 MW. What caused that? The temperature,” he said.
The statements take on even greater significance at a time when the sector is closely monitoring the government's next moves regarding electricity expansion.
During FES Guatemala itself, Minister Victor Hugo Ventura had left open the possibility of moving forward with a new tender after the result of PEG-5, a signal that was read by the market as continuity in the strategy of incorporating new capacity.
In that context, Castro's departure raises questions about the technical management of that agenda and the next steps in the country's energy planning.
REVIVE FES GUATEMALA 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fQIrVqwZYk
What's next on the FES agenda?
The Future Energy Summit tour will continue with FES Mexico tomorrow, May 19, where key players from the public and private sectors will address the challenges and opportunities linked to the expansion of the energy system, new investment schemes and the execution of strategic projects.
To access the full FES 2026 tour schedule, learn more about it and be part of the meetings, the FES digital platform is available, while all events will have a live broadcast through the official Future Energy Summit YouTube channel.
For inquiries and more information, please contact info@futurenergysummit.com