Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa

What Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa does

Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa (CEL) is a state-owned hydroelectric generation entity of the Government of El Salvador that operates five hydroelectric plants on the Lempa River — Central Hidroeléctrica 5 de Noviembre, Central Hidroeléctrica 15 de Septiembre, Central Hidroeléctrica Guajoyo, Central Hidroeléctrica Cerrón Grande, and the future Central Hidroeléctrica 3 de Febrero — supplying renewable electricity to over 2 million residential, commercial, and industrial users across the national grid. With over 70 years of operational history, CEL sits within El Salvador's institutional government framework (instituciones.gob.sv) and functions as the state's primary hydroelectric generator and promoter of renewable energy adoption.

Name

Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa

Legal name

Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa

Website

https://cel.gob.sv

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa (CEL) is a state-owned hydroelectric generation entity of El Salvador operating five hydroelectric plants that supply renewable electricity to over 2 million users, while expanding into biogas, solar, and nuclear energy evaluation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydroelectric Power Generation

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Utility Distribution Companies (Electric + Gas/Water Distribution) (EUADABAJ)

Keywords

• Hydroelectric power generation
• Renewable energy
• Electricity distribution
• Biogas generation
• Energy infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

San Salvador

HQ country

El Salvador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Electricity Generation and Distribution: As a state-owned utility, CEL generates hydroelectric and renewable electricity for distribution to residential, commercial, and industrial users across El Salvador. Revenue is generated through government-controlled electricity distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa (CEL) is a state-owned electricity generator that operates five hydroelectric power plants on the Lempa River to produce renewable electricity for distribution across El Salvador. The company also executes innovative renewable energy projects, including a hybrid biogas, solar photovoltaic, and small-scale hydroelectric plant with a total installed capacity of 5.2 MW, and manages the Programa de Acceso Universal a la Energía Eléctrica (PAUE) to extend electricity access to underserved communities.

Product overview

Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa (CEL) operates as a state-owned hydroelectric power generator and renewable energy promoter in El Salvador. The company's portfolio consists of five operational hydroelectric plants serving over 2 million users, complemented by the innovative biogas-based hybrid power plant (5.2 MW total capacity combining biogas, solar PV, and small hydro). Additionally, CEL manages the Programa de Acceso Universal a la Energía (PAUE), a national program to extend electrical access to underserved communities throughout the country. The organization's offerings span power generation, distribution support for universal access, and environmental management services including wastewater treatment through biogas technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Generación Hidroeléctrica (Five Hydroelectric Plants) CEL operates five hydroelectric power plants that generate renewable electricity for over 2 million users in El Salvador, including Central Hidroeléctrica 5 de Noviembre, Central Hidroeléctrica 15 de Septiembre, Central Hidroeléctrica Guajoyo, Central Hidroeléctrica Cerrón Grande, and Central Hidroeléctrica 3 de Febrero (under construction).
• Planta de Generación Eléctrica con Biogás (Biogas Power Generation Plant) A hybrid renewable energy plant combining biogas (2.85 MW), solar photovoltaic (1.9 MW), and small-scale hydropower (0.45 MW) for a total installed capacity of 5.2 MW, designed to treat 70% of wastewater from the San Salvador Metropolitan Area and supply electricity to approximately 21,000 families.
• Programa de Acceso Universal a la Energía Eléctrica (PAUE) A national program aimed at providing universal access to electrical energy throughout El Salvador, including electrification of communities and vulnerable populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 2 million electricity users
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería de Chile (SERNAGEOMIN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025Technical cooperation agreement for geological and geochemical capacity building. Chilean experts trained Salvadoran professionals in sedimentological sampling, stratigraphy, and geological survey techniques. Collaboration supports strategic projects in mining, hydrocarbons, and energy sectors.
• Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental management cooperation including wetland conservation, water quality monitoring, and ecosystem protection around hydroelectric reservoirs. Joint initiatives for embalse cleanup and environmental protocols.
• Agencia Internacional de Energías Renovables (IRENA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational renewable energy agency partnership. CEL hosted the Global Geothermal Alliance second high-level conference in collaboration with IRENA, focusing on geothermal development as key component of clean energy transition.
• Administración Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (ANDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint water quality monitoring initiatives including lake monitoring programs such as the Lake Güija collaborative assessment.
• Asociación Geotérmica Internacional (IGA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational geothermal association supporting the Global Geothermal Alliance conference organized by CEL and IRENA.
• Unión Europea (UE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union representatives visited CEL's Guajoyo Hydroelectric Plant to understand El Salvador's renewable energy challenges and climate change response strategies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Iberdrola: Global renewable and regulated utility with significant hydroelectric and solar capacity in Latin America. Comparable to CEL in hydro-led generation profile, but operates across multiple countries and markets with private ownership and shareholder discipline.
• Enel Green Power: Global renewable energy developer and operator owned by Enel. Comparable to CEL as a renewable generation operator with hydro, solar, and biogas experience, but operates internationally with a private capital structure and merchant/IPP exposure.
• Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE): Mexico's state-owned electric utility covering generation, transmission, and distribution nationwide. Comparable as a Latin American state-owned electric monopoly, but operates at vastly greater scale and across a broader fuel mix than CEL.

Direct peers

• Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica (ETESA): Panama's state-owned transmission system operator and wholesale market administrator. Comparable as a Central American state electric entity operating alongside hydro generators in a regulated market structure similar to El Salvador's.
• Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE): Honduras's state-owned electric utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution. Directly comparable to CEL as a neighboring Central American state monopoly serving a similar national customer base, although ENEE has been more distressed operationally.
• Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala (EEGSA): Guatemala's main private distribution utility historically linked to the state's generation assets. Comparable to CEL as part of the Central American electric sector operating in adjacent jurisdictions with similar tariff regulation.
• Instituto Nacional de Electrificación (INDE): Guatemala's state-owned electric entity involved in generation, transmission, and distribution. Comparable to CEL as a Central American state utility with significant hydroelectric assets and a national electrification mandate.
• Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE): Costa Rica's state-owned electric utility operating hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, and solar generation. Closely comparable to CEL as a similarly sized Central American state monopoly with a hydro-led renewable mix and regulated retail distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CEL_ElSalvador
• YouTubeyoutube.com/celgobsv
• Facebookfacebook.com/CELSV
• Instagraminstagram.com/cel_elsalvador
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/comision-ejecutiva-hidroelectrica-del-rio-lempa

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa