The Lempa River Hydroelectric Executive Commission (CEL) through its subsidiary LAGEO SA de CV (LAGEO) has published a tender for integrated drilling services for the drilling of eight geothermal wells in the Chinameca geothermal field in El Salvador. Offers under this tender must be sent no later than 16 October 2026.
The tender announcement follows a call for early interest that LAGEO announced earlier this year. CEL has received financing from the World Bank in 2025 to support the development of the Chinameca project. LAGEO is planning for a 25-MW power generation project at the Chinameca site.
The drilling program includes the execution of eight directional wells with a 12.25-inch borehole diameter and a 9.5-inch liner, at depths between 1,800 and 2,200 meters (MD). Approximately, five of the wells will be for production purposes and three for reinjection purposes. These wells will be drilled in the Chinameca geothermal field, in the department of San Miguel, 130 km west of the city of San Salvador. The estimated term for the execution of the Comprehensive Drilling Services contract is 31 months.
LAGEO invites eligible Bidders to submit sealed Bids for the provision of comprehensive drilling services, including drilling equipment and accessories, complementary services and all materials necessary for drilling the wells. The tender will be conducted through international competitive procurement using the Request for Proposals (RFP) method, as provided for in the World Bank’s September 2023 Borrower Procurement Regulations for Investment Projects.
The bidding process will be conducted in accordance with the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for Investment Finance Project Borrowers,” and bids will be evaluated according to the evaluation procedure set out in the bidding documents. A 50% weighting will be applied to the scoring criteria (including technical and non-price factors) and a 50% weighting to the bid cost.
Eligible bidders may obtain the tender document in Spanish upon submission of a written request to the address below. Offers must be sent to the address below no later than 16 October 2026 at 10:00 AM. Electronic submission of bids is not permitted.
The outer envelopes of the bid marked “ORIGINAL BID” and the inner envelopes marked “TECHNICAL SECTION” will be opened publicly in the presence of the bidders’ designated representatives and any other interested parties on December 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM. All envelopes marked “FINANCIAL SECTION” will remain unopened and will be kept in the secure custody of the Contracting Authority until the second public opening of the bids.
The address referred to above is as follows:
LAGEO S.A. de C.V.
Katherine Jeamileth Vásquez, Analista de Compras
Final 15 Avenida Sur y Bulevar Sur, Colonia Utila, 01501, Santa Tecla, La Libertad, El Salvador
PBX (503) 2211-6700, Directo (503) 2211-6814
Source: Email correspondence
