El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele announced a $2.9 billion investment package by Spanish firm Cox Energy on Tuesday (October 13), marking the largest private investment in the Central American nation's history.

The deal, signed with Cox Infrastructure Group CEO Enrique Riquelme in San Salvador, encompasses energy, water, and fuel infrastructure projects. The package includes a $1.8 billion natural gas storage plant designed to enable energy exports to neighbouring countries, along with $600 million for water and sanitation improvements, $300 million for solar energy storage batteries with 440 megawatts capacity, and $200 million for a photovoltaic plant.

Bukele told reporters the investment would create jobs and attract additional companies while directly benefiting Salvadoran households through reduced electricity tariffs once the new power plant becomes operational. The president said the infrastructure would allow El Salvador to phase out dependence on "dirty energy" sources such as bunker fuel, leading to lower household energy bills.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR (OCTOBER 13, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. SALVADORAN PRESIDENT NAYIB BUKELE AND CEO OF COX INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP ENRIQUE RIQUELME ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE

2. RIQUELME AND BUKELE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

3. VARIOUS OF RIQUELME AND BUKELE SIGNING INVESTMENT MEMORANDUM

4. RIQUELME AND BUKELE EXCHANGE FOLDERS WITH SIGNED AGREEMENT, SHAKE HANDS AND POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SALVADORAN PRESIDENT NAYIB BUKELE, SAYING:

"We are announcing the largest private investment in El Salvador's history, for $2.9 billion, which is not only larger than the previous number one, which is now number two, but is greater than number two and number three combined."

6. JOURNALISTS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SALVADORAN PRESIDENT, NAYIB BUKELE, SAYING:

"The investment is in energy, water and fuel. So these are things that not only generate employment, investment, development, production, etcetera, but are also vital for the establishment of other companies."

8. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AT PRESS CONFERENCE

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SALVADORAN PRESIDENT NAYIB BUKELE, SAYING:

"This will also benefit, well, it will benefit the country as a whole and the economy and therefore all Salvadorans. But it will also directly benefit Salvadoran families, households, because once the new power plant is operational, we will be able to stop depending on dirty energy like bunker fuel for example, and therefore the energy tariff for Salvadoran households will go down."

10. BUKELE AND RIQUELME EXIT ROOM AFTER SIGNING AGREEMENT AND PRESS CONFERENCE