science ministers, Daniel Filmusand Defense, Jorge Taianavisited this Thursday the Petrel Antarctic Basewhere they supervised the reactivation work of the site destined to become one of the main logistics poles of the white continent.
The officials, who this Wednesday had arrived at the Marambio base together with the delegation headed by President Alberto FernándezAfter the ceremony, they embarked on the icebreaker “Almirante Irízar” aboard which they arrived at Dundee Island, located about 1,100 kilometers from Ushuaia and more than 3,000 from Buenos Aires, on which the Petrel Base is located at the foot of the Rosamaría glacier , founded in 1952 and affected by a fire in 1974.
Due to the two landing strips at sea level and the pier that this detachment has, its recovery and modernization multiplies Argentina’s operational possibilities in Antarctica.
“We wanted to be present in Petrel to be able to observe the great task that women and men of our Armed Forces carry out to recover this base; the objective is to provide it with the latest technology, the greatest respect for the environment and with an emphasis on scientific research. For this reason, together with the Ministry of Science we are going to build a fourth multidisciplinary laboratory on this base“, affirmed Minister Taiana, in a day where the inclement weather showed its hostility.
“The reconstruction of Petrel is a task of paramount importance for the development of Argentine work in Antarctica. We are recovering it so that it is a state-of-the-art base, a gateway to the continent and a fundamental pillar of national science.“, he highlighted.
For his part, Minister Filmus assured: “Together with Minister Jorge Taiana, we announced the construction of a fourth Antarctic multidisciplinary laboratory that will have 800 square meters and an approximate investment of 500 million pesos in the ‘Build Science’ plan”.
Along these lines, he added that “the laboratory will have the same construction system developed by the Armed Forces with totally national technology. There will be two floors of 400 square meters each, and it will be a research space for all Antarctic disciplines. The idea is that it will be ready at the end of the next summer season.”
The ministers’ tour
The scientific portfolio reported in a statement that during the visit to the Petrel base, the ministers toured the fully recovered hangar for the helicopters, they were able to see the work on the entrance and exit gates, on the surface slabs and the change of all the sheets of the roof and walls.
They also supervised the construction of the concrete bases of the field of photovoltaic solar panels and the installation of the same; there they observed all the old structures that were demolished on the plain and the old antenna field, in whose place the new buildings of the project will be built.
In addition, Taiana and Filmus were able to see the installation of the new fuel tankers, which replaced the old ones. Lastly, the ministers were able to appreciate the dock (M4-T6 Bridge) that was temporarily set up to enable logistics unloading from the icebreaker.
The base, with a capacity for 140 peoplewill have a state-of-the-art Antarctic home, designed under the self-sustaining concept, with technological innovation that allows the use of alternative energies.
This development of the Ministry of Defense is part of the comprehensive renovation project of the Petrel Joint Antarctic Base (BACP), which after 40 years once again became a permanent base.
He Tandanor Shipyard is in charge of the reconstruction of the thermal housing modular house for the Petrel joint Antarctic base, which is carried out not only to cover all the functional requirements but also the housing technologies in accordance with modern construction techniques.
We are sailing on the icebreaker Almirante Irízar heading to the Petrel base. As soon as the weather permits, we will go to inspect the progress of the reconstruction works of the seventh permanent base of our country on the white continent. pic.twitter.com/lujfV4kc6i
— Jorge Taiana (@JorgeTaiana) February 23, 2023
This new infrastructure has the purpose of favoring scientific research, by now having Antarctic logistics services with appropriate facilities for the accommodation of personnel who carry out research work on Dundee Island, as well as those who are in transit to carry out camps in other sectors on the north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The Petrel base will have a state-of-the-art Antarctic housing, designed under the self-sustaining concept, with technology that allows the use of alternative energies.
The building will occupy a minimum area of 1,920 m2distributed over two floors and will have an operational capacity of 60 people of the permanent endowment and 80 that are in transit, reaching a total capacity of 140 places.
Among its amenities it will include an infirmary with an office for patient care, dentistry, an X-ray room, a shock room, hospitalization rooms and a pharmacy; kitchen, bakery, multipurpose gym and a radio station for satellite and computer communications.
