The first of the turbines that will make it possible to materialize the Santa Cruz River Hydroelectric Exploitation Projectthe mega-project that includes the construction of the Gobernador Jorge Cepernic and Néstor Kirchner dams in the Patagonian province, which will improve the quality of electricity supply in 1.1 million Argentine homes.
From China arrived in the province of Santa Cruz the first of the three Kaplan-type turbines that will power the Governor Jorge Cepernic Hydroelectric Power Plantthe state company Energía Argentina and the firm Eling Energía specified in separate statements.
From this company, which is part of the Transitory Union of Companies that are building the project, they specified that the Governor Jorge Cepernic hydroelectric plant It will have an installed capacity of 360 MW. Meanwhile, the Néstor Kirchner plant will have a capacity of 950 MW, which between them will contribute a total of 1,310 MW.
On an annual average, both will generate 5,282 GWh, so as renewable and non-polluting sources will contribute to diversify the national matrix. Thus, with a focus on the energy transition, It is expected to expand the installed hydroelectric power in the country by 11.4 percent.
Enarsa, in a press release, specified that the first turbine for the Gobernador Jorge Cepernic Hydroelectric Power Plant arrived by ship at the Santa Cruz port of Punta Quilla. And that the unloading process has already begun for the subsequent transfer in trucks and carts of this machinery considered essential for the work.
Mario Metaza, member of the board of Energía Argentina, was present at the port of Punta Quillain addition to other authorities from the state company and the construction joint venture, during the arrival of the turbine.
The governor of Santa Cruz, Alicia Kirchner, He said that “the arrival of this turbine is a very important step for the future generation of Santa Cruz energy for the entire country, from our Jorge Cepernic and Néstor Kirchner dams.”
The president recalled that “in the Pro government we had many setbacks but with the will and decision of the current national government the project did not stop. This is the path of development and energy sovereignty for an entire country”.
“I thank Enarsa, the UTE and all the workers who build these concrete events that will allow us to grow,” concluded the governor. The Kaplan-type turbine, specially built for the Jorge Cepernic power plant according to international standards, left the port of Shanghai on October 2. Taking into account its characteristics, the load was divided for its transfer.
It is the first of the three that the plant will have, each with a power of 120 MW. The hydroelectric complex, located in the province of Santa Cruz, will have an installed capacity of 1,310 MW, of which 360 MW correspond to the Cepernic plant and 950 MW to the President Néstor Kirchner plant.
Once in operation, the dams will allow an annual saving of 1,500 million dollars by substituting imports of liquid fuels.
On the Electroengineering side, Juan Manuel Pereyra, president of the company, said that the work “will improve the quality and stability of the electricity supply in more than 1,100,000 Argentine households”.
The project, in addition to the dams and hydroelectric plants, contemplates the construction of a 170-kilometer Extra High Voltage line that will connect the dams to the Argentine Interconnection System (SADI).
In general terms, The mega-project will generate 6,000 new direct jobs and 15,000 indirect ones.
