Stretching across Nicaragua’s west coast, the Maribios volcanic chain may harbor a solution to the country’s energy crisis. The power embedded in those volcanoes is being harvested through geothermal projects, which could help Nicaragua wean itself from its dependence on imported fossil fuels and meet more of its energy demand.

A report released by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) last month noted that only 55 percent of Nicaragua’s population is connected to the electricity grid, the lowest electricity coverage of any Central American country. At its annual showcase, however, the GEA noted that countries such as Nicaragua and Indonesia have become strong geothermal markets, thanks to national policies that support its growth.

In 2009, the Sandinista government granted concessions to