Chilean NCE forecasts up to twelve-month delays in some power plants construction
10-Oct-2012 Diario Financiero – News
As informed in a preliminary report of October nodal prices
Chilean NCE forecasts up to twelve-month delays in some power plants construction
SING-SIC interconnection estimated to start in July 2019. Candelaria conversion to LNG considered for 2020
Latest preliminary report of nodal prices for SIC system elaborated by Chilean NCE that came to the knowledge of Diario Financiero, revealed that some power plants, which are being granted a recommendation to be constructed, are also experiencing up to twelve-month delay with respect to last year estimates.
The Chilean NCE report that is being revised by the organism also considers one-year delay for two power plants. First of them is a 343 MW installed-capacity, coal-operated thermoelectric plant. It was estimated to start operations in April 2016, however, it is now expected to start during the same month but in 2017.
Similar delay is anticipated for another 250 MW coal-operated plant located in Pan de Azúcar. Original estimate was for 2020, but now it is for one year later.
Colbún plant, San Pedro, also went through some adjustments to startup schedule and moved from December 2014 to June 2015, per NCE estimates. Some other power plants are also experiencing some delay, as it is the case of two hydroelectric plants in VII Region that were expected for April 2014 and are now scheduled for October that same year.
As regards to HydroAysén plants, shown as Module 01, 02, and 04, these have not been affected by any modification to their timing and they continue being scheduled for April 2021, May and December 2022, respectively.
Interconnection
Chilean NCE is already including in the analysis a possible interconnection of both electric systems in the country. The report indicates “simulation of both systems in a 1500 MVA interconnection line has been simulated for SIC (Central Interconnected System) and SING (Norte Grande Interconnected System) systems from July 2019 onwards between Encuentro SING and Cardones SIC substations”.
Some sources close to Government have informed that call for bids for this project is expected for next year. Chilean NCE is working on two final definitions: alternating or direct current.
Candelaria
The report also contains the recommendation to convert one of the two plants of Colbun’s Candelaria complex to combined cycle to use LNG. Presently both plants have 130 MW installed capacity each. Cycle closing will add 120 MW capacity.
Some sources from power generation plant indicate that closing cycles is one of the objectives the company has and for that reason they are working on a project to construct a floating LNG terminal in Quintero. The plan they are working on considers using Oxiquim terminal as port for LNG discharge.
Besides, it was informed that Matte’s company is already having conversations with potential LNG suppliers – from U.S.A. and Europe – but conversations are still at a very initial and uncertain stage.
The Chilean NCE plan to close Candelaria cycle is pretty delayed with respect to Colbún’s purposes. While the state organism considers it should be ready for January 2020, the company pretends to have it implemented and operating early 2015-2016, as reported by some sources close to the company.
