The Transmission Company of El Salvador (ETESAL) has officially set July 23 for the inauguration of the new Surf City substation and its corresponding transmission line in Tamanique. Representing a $35 million investment, this milestone turns months of grid development into a high-capacity reality designed to stabilize and secure the power supply along the booming coastal corridor of La Libertad and Costa del Sol.
The facility arrives at a critical juncture, as surging tourism and private investments in luxury hotels, restaurants, and commercial plazas have driven electricity demand in the region up by over 25%. According to ETESAL President Edwin Núñez, the strategic asset is specifically built to meet this commercial growth, noting that “it is one of the most important substations because it responds precisely to this focus, which is surf.”
Beyond the coast, ETESAL is already leveraging this infrastructure momentum to catalyze economic development in eastern El Salvador. Before the end of the year, the utility will break ground on a new transmission line linking San Miguel and Morazán, an area heavily impacted by extreme temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and expanding industrial energy needs.
This grid expansion in the east is carefully synchronized with upcoming logistics infrastructure, notably the future Pacific International Airport. By developing an interconnected network of new substations from San Miguel to Pasaquina, ETESAL continues to scale its national footprint, which currently spans 1,400 kilometers of transmission lines and 28 operational facilities.