National Power Administration Will Propose a Special Cryptocurrency Mining Fee in Paraguay

The National Power Administration of Paraguay has proposed to set a special mining fee for cryptocurrency mining operations in a decree project directed to the national economic team. Due to the immense losses the organization has faced, it has stopped supplying energy to some mining operations that were evading the payment of power bills, being illegally connected to the grid.

National Power Administration to Change Power Billing Structure for Mining Operations in Paraguay

The National Power Administration is proposing a new way of charging cryptocurrency companies for the electricity used in mining operations in Paraguay. The company has brought a new decree proposal to the national economic team that would collect the payments for these services in advance in U.S. dollars, and with an annual adjustment. This proposal would also create a new billing group for these activities.

The head of the East Regional Management Division, Alfredo Argüello, stated that while inspecting different cryptocurrency mining operations, the group was able to detect irregularities in some of them that led to the loss of more than $400,000 monthly. Some of these irregularities included direct connections, bypass connections, and modified power meters, Argüello informed.

As a result of this, the company is stopping the power supply to these companies until a new power billing structure is approved for these entities, an issue that’s already being discussed in the Paraguayan senate.

Cryptocurrency Laws Ready

The cryptocurrency mining activity in Paraguay has experienced a boom due to the cheap fees that the power companies are actually charging for electricity. Several companies have expressed their interest in establishing operations in Paraguay after the Chinese mining ban, which forced many mining operators to leave the country and search for new lands for carrying out their activities.

The Senate passed a bill in July that, if approved, will bring clarity to these operations in the country. The law, which is still waiting to be sanctioned by the Paraguayan president, establishes that the energy provided to mining operations will still be subsidized, but will have to be set at a rate 15% higher than what other industries pay currently.

About this, the president of the National Power Administration, Felix Sosa, stated:

At that point, we believe that it has to respond to a cost structure so that it is viable for the installation of electrical energy supply.

Furthermore, Sosa stated that he will propose a partial veto of this bill due to the proposals it makes regarding power billing to these companies.