EPSE Begins Start-Up Tests of Caracoles Hydroelectric Plant in Argentina

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Energia Provincial Sociedad del Estado (EPSE) has begun tests on one of the two hydraulic turbines installed at the Caracoles Hydroelectric Power Plant in the province of San Juan in Argentina.

The Techint-Panedile joint venture, the consortium that built the dam, carried out the electromechanical assembly of the plant in mid-2008 and completed the filling of the reservoir toward the end of the year. For details, view related May 28, 2008, article - Techint-Panedile Begins Electromechanical Assembly of the Caracoles Hydroelectric Plant.

According to officials, the plant will start generating about 63 megawatts (MW) of electricity within the next 15 days.

The $250 million facility is equipped with two 62.9-MW Francis Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod hydro turbine-generators, supplied by Russian Power Machines (Moscow), which will generate electricity for use in the western part of the country and contribute to the economic development of San Juan.

At the same time, EPSE is continuing with studies to construct the 60-MW Punta Negra Hydroelectric Plant which will also be situated on the San Juan River, 19 kilometers south of the Caracoles facility, between the departments of Ullum and Zonda.

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