The Nicaraguan government has announced that it will open up the San Cristobal volcano for bidding for the construction of a geothermal plant. San Cristobal is the country’s largest volcano.

According to statements made by President Daniel Ortega and Energy Minister Emilio Rappacioli, Nicaragua plans to build enough new geothermal and hydroelectric (read: big dams) energy capacity to generate 3,000 MW per day. Currently, 80 percent of Nicaraguan electricity is generated from petroleum. Rising oil prices have led to daily 4-hour blackouts since May.

News reports do not say whether this massive planned expansion of energy infrastructure is linked to Plan Puebla Panamá — so perhaps we can be forgiven for wondering, a) what percentage of new capacity will go to industrial manufacturing, especially products for export to the First World and b) whether the old petroleum-based plants will really be taken offline, or if this is really just a plan to increase overall capacity.