With the presence of the President of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou, UTE celebrated its 110th anniversary. The company has been part of the main transformations in the country and “has been up to the task,” said the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), Omar Paganini. Currently, the company works to drive energy transformation through a plan based on safety, equity and sustainability.
The ceremony was held in the assembly hall of the Palacio de la Luz. The Secretary of the Presidency, Álvaro Delgado; the assistant secretary, Rodrigo Ferrés; the Ministers of Education and Culture, Pablo da Silveira; and National Defense, Javier García; the director of the Office of Planning and Budget, Isaac Alfie, and the director of Energy of the MIEM, Fitzgerald Cantero.
The president of UTE, Silvia Emaldi; the vice president, Julio Luis Sanguinetti; directors Felipe Algorta, Enrique Pées Bozz and Fernanda Cardona; the president of the Uruguayan Post Office, Rafael Navarrine, and the president of Antel, Gabriel Gurméndez.
The company has an investment plan that will allow it to provide a quality service to people and productive sectors, in an increasingly demanding context. The planned investment is 1,380 million dollars in the five-year period, informed the president of the entity.
This plan will make it possible to carry out works such as the laying of the second line to Punta del Tigre, the closure of the northern ring road with a transmission line that will link Tacuarembó with Salto, the renovation of the Baygorria power plant –recently awarded–, the expansion of the master plan for Montevideo and the metropolitan area, among other projects. The works plan will not only guarantee a quality service, but also generate job opportunities throughout the country, Emaldi said.
In addition to investments in infrastructure, management is aimed at guaranteeing safe access to energy for all people. The agency implements a social inclusion plan to increase the number of facilities, regularize critical context homes. In addition, 40 million dollars were allocated to finance discounts in the rate for beneficiaries of programs of the Ministry of Social Development, which reaches some 134,000 households. Another goal is the electrification of 100% of the country’s homes by 2024.
The company also emphasizes environmental sustainability. As an example, Emaldi highlighted the effort made to develop electric routes through 142 charging points throughout the country and added that it is expected to reach 300 in 2023. Fifty of these stations will be fast charging, where 80% can be charged. of electric vehicle batteries in 30 minutes. It also works with the MIEM to certify products made with green energy and coordinates with the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) so that the validation is international in nature.
Finally, the president of UTE highlighted the efforts made to improve management and processes, as well as the awards for innovation granted by the Regional Energy Integration Commission. In addition, the firm was distinguished for achieving the highest level of user satisfaction in the region. In the coming weeks, it will also receive recognition from the Inter-American Development Bank for the construction of the Valentines wind farm.
“This company is going to move forward due to the enormous commitment of all the officials. It is the commitment to reach all homes with electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That is what encourages us to go one step further, because together we have to energetically transform our country”, he expressed.
