Argentina approves 1,310-MW Nestor Kirchner-Jorge Cepernic hydro complex
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Argentina’s Federal Energy Council has unanimous given the go-ahead for the development of the stalled 1,310-MW Nestor Kirchner–Jorge Cepernic hydropower complex planned for Santa Cruz River in Argentina.
Argentina’s Energy and Mining Ministry published a new environmental impact study for the hydropower facility after the Supreme Court of Argentina suspended work on the project amidst reports that the federal government did not perform mandatory studies and consultations.
The two dams that comprise the hydropower complex will be located along the Santa Cruz River approximately 80km apart and will represent a total investment of around US$5 billion.
The proposed Nestor Kirchner project is a 75-meter-high concrete-faced rock dam and the completed power house will have a capacity of 950 MW. The Jorge Cepernic dam, named after the former governor of Santa Cruz province, will be 43 meters high and will have an installed capacity of 360 MW.
In late May, Argentina announced that it would directly award the contract for the hydro complex to expedite its completion. Represas Patagonia, a JV between Argentina-based firms Electroingenieria and Hidrocuyo, and China Gezhouba Group is currently developing the project. China has agreed to& undertake the project’s entire financing.
Additionally, Argentina’s Energy and Mining Ministry plans to publish by the end of the year a "critical vision" for 55 hydro projects at different development stages totaling 18 GW of power capacity. The aim is to identify the most attractive projects and define a timeline for their completion.
Besides the above referred Nestor Kirchner–Jorge Cepernic hydropower complex this "critical vision" involves the 641MW Chihuido I dam projected for the Neuquén river and the flagship of Argentina's hydropower portfolio, the 3,500MW Corpus dam proposed for the Paraná river.
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