Electric power highway will make investment projects viable in next 8 to 10 years
14-Aug-2012 Estrategia – News
Ricardo Rainieri, former Minister of Energy
Electric power highway will make investment projects viable in next 8 to 10 years
Former secretary supports replicating Brazilian model to develop the system and agrees with distributors
When only few days are left for the Public Electric Power Highway project to start its final process, the former Minister of Energy, Ricardo Raineri, who has been recently appointed as new representative of Chile in World Bank, refers to the project scope stating it “will grant more feasibility to many investment projects”
Under this scope, the ex Minister asserted that the project must be thought as “an integrated part to present trunk transmission system having in mind that the purpose of this highway definition is anticipating the long-term development by designing a corridor for main transmission lines to go through”.
Likewise, he added that when considering the different models the experts propose “main purpose must not be left out of sight, i.e. speeding transmission system up in order to have an expedite processing of concessions thus avoiding further delays in transmission projects”.
When he was asked about the stance the distributors had on this matter by requiring the Executive branch of government to take the Brazilian model to make modifications to the system, Raineri stated that “at transmission level it is feasible the authority defines corridors and gets environmental permits and concessions to bid transmission line construction at lower costs”.
He added that if expedite processing is granted at the Congress “the electric power highway will enable investment projects for next 8 to 10 years”, which will not necessarily complicate the process.
