Argentina Launches Investment Program to Add New Generation Capacity

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Energia Argentina Sociedad Anonima (Enarsa), a state-owned energy company, has recently launched a major investment program for the construction, erection, operation supervision and maintenance of five thermal generating plants under a turnkey contract with power outputs between 110 megawatts (MW) and 560 MW each, equipped with gas turbo-generators.

The 2008-09 plan includes the addition of one 115-MW open-cycle combustion turbine in Central Termoelectrica Ing. Francisco Bazan (Central Sudoeste) is operated by Empresa Provincial de Energia Electrica de Cordoba (EPEC) in Cordoba Province with four generating units. However, only two are in service, supplying 50 MW. Enarsa opened bids at the beginning of 2008.

Additionally, there are open bids for the construction of the Central Termoelectrica Manuel Belgrano II, following the CCPP Manuel Belgrano I, currently under construction under control of Spanish power group Endesa. The plant will supply 830 MW of capacity when completed in March 2008. Manuel Belgrano II would have a total power output of 270 MW with two open-cycle gas turbines with the possibility for further development to function as a combined-cycle facility with a similar capacity to the one currently under construction.

Furthermore, there are plans to construct the Central Termoelectrica Necochea II in Puerto Quequen, Buenos Aires, set within the same area of the Necochea power plant of 216 MW. The project, scheduled to be operation by year's end, consists of installing an open-cycle gas generating unit with a power capacity of 125 MW.

National and international bids are also open for the construction of two 270-MW thermal power plants with the possibility of expansion into a combined-cycle facility. The plants, Brigadier E. Lopez and Ensenada de Barragan, would be in Santo Tome, Santa Fe Province, and Ensenada, Buenos Aires, Province, respectively, and would go into operation in 2010.

At the same time, EPEC is developing an expansion project in its Gobernador Arturo Zanichelli thermal power plant in Pilar, Cordoba Province. The project consists of installing a gas-fired, combined-cycle generating facility that will add 480 MW of capacity to the plant's 216 MW. For details, view related December 5, 2007, article - Argentine Firm Could Take on Thermoelectric Expansion Project with Siemens.

These power-generation projects reflect Argentina's efforts to give an urgent solution to the country's energy crisis and to secure supply in response to growth in demand for power. For details, view related January 14, 2008, article - Argentina Lacking Investments to Boost Power Capacity.

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