| Abstract |
El Salvador has an area of 21,000 km2, and a population of six million inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the American continent. Since the mid-1970ís geothermal has been one of the main sources of electricity in the country, supplying up to 41% of the national electricity demand in 1981. Since 1996, ComisiÛn Ejecutiva HidroelÈctrica del RÌo Lempa (CEL), the National Electric Utility Company, has embarked on projects to recover and expand geothermal electricity generation, all in the midst of wholesale reform of the electricity legislation and regulation. Geothermal generation now competes-favourablywith other energy sources in an open market. |