Techint-Panedile Joint Venture in Final Construction Stage of Caracoles Hydroelectric Project

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The joint venture between Techint (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Panedile (Buenos Aires) has reached the final construction phase of the Caracoles hydroelectric dam and power station in the Argentine province of San Juan. The Caracoles hydroelectric power plant is owned by provincial energy company Energia Provincial Sociedad del Estado (EPSE). For more information, see related May 31, 2007, article - Caracoles Hydroelectric Project Reaches 68% Completion.

ESPE officials said water will be allowed to fill the reservoir in October 2008 through February 2009. The plant is expected to begin full operation in March 2009 with a maximum power-dispatching capability of 80 megawatts (MW). The plant will reach its maximum output of 126 MW in its second year of operation.

The new dam, located on the San Juan River about 53 kilometers from San Juan, will have two 62.9 MW Francis vertical type turbines manufactured by Russian Power Machines (Moscow) and will provide 126 MW of electricity to San Juan.

The joint venture is responsible for the plant's construction while AES Caracoles SRL (San Juan, Argentina), a subsidiary of the AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) (Arlington, Virginia), will provide operation and maintenance services for the plant.

The project aims to improve the use of the San Juan River, the region's main water resource. The project also represents an important electric power contribution from the province to the national grid.

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