EPSE Prepares to Begin Construction of the Punta Negra Hydropower Plant in San Juan

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Energia Provincial Sociedad del Estado (EPSE) (San Juan, Argentina) recently announced plans to begin construction ahead of schedule on the 62-megawatt (MW) Punta Negra Hydropower Plant on the San Juan River.

Punta Negra and the Los Caracoles hydropower plant were planned as twin facilities around 1998. Construction on the Punta Negra plant began, but it was halted in June 2002. The Caracoles plant began operations in June of this year and is equipped with two 62.2-MW Francis turbines. For more details, view June 24, 2009, article - EPSE Begins Operations of Caracoles Hydroelectric Plant in Argentina.

The Punta Negra hydropower plant will be situated 19 kilometers south of the Caracoles facility, between the departments of Ullum and Zonda, and will be equipped with two 31.1-MW Francis turbines, which are expected to generate 296.4 gigawatts annually.

The joint venture between Techint (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Panedile (Buenos Aires) will be responsible for the plant's construction, while AES Andes (San Juan, Argentina), a subsidiary of AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) (Arlington, Virginia), will provide operation and maintenance services for the plant.

The project, with an estimated cost of nearly $350 million, envisions the economical development of the San Juan province and aims to improve the use of the San Juan River, while representing an important electric power contribution from the province to the national grid.

After completion of Punta Negra, the 60-MW El Horcajo project will be developed on the same river. This project is in a relatively advanced stage and has technical studies dating back to 1981.

View Plant Profile - 1085310
View Project Report - 66000072

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.