Environmental Authority approves Central Cuervo Hydroelectric Project
Southern Energy Project has the support of the mayor of Puerto Aysen and most of the community. Next step is the processing power lines and two new plants
A big step just give Energía Austral-controlled by Australian Origin Energy (51%) and Switzerland’s Glencore Xstrata (49%) – in the development of the 1,065 MW hydroelectric megaproject 110 kilometers from Coyhaique, Aysen.
Yesterday the Commission for Environmental Assessment (CEA) from Aysen approved unanimously, the Cuervo plant (640 MW), the second largest hydroelectric dam endorsed by the environmental authority in the past ten years, after HydroAysén.
The project includes a generating capacity of 640 MW and an investment of U.S. $ 733 million.
Cuervo is the largest of the three plants which group the Energía Austral complex in Patagonia. To this are added the Blanco hydro (375 MW) and Condor (50 MW) that have not yet begun their environmental processing.
Energía Austral suffered a major setback in May 2012 after the Supreme Court set aside the Environmental Qualification Resolution Cuervo. The high court ordered further geographical studies and determined that the project should be reassessed with this new information.
Cuervo’s score also sets a number of conditions and commitments to the region. One of the most important is the reduction in 21% of the electricity bills paid 100 000 inhabitants of Aysen. To this is added the construction of a tourist route of 16 kilometers to access protected wild areas and delivery of infrastructure for marine at sector Bahía Acantilada.
Development Manager from Energía Austral, Alejandro Borquez, said “we will give a timely response to the conditions and requirements of both the community and the authority.”
In turn, the mayor of Puerto Aysen, Oscar Catalan, described the project beneficial. “With the approval of this plant begin to open many initiatives that ultimately will serve to the progress of the community. The project involves the construction of roads, parks, a marina, and various investments that will support tourism in Aysen “he said.
Meanwhile, the neighborhood leader of Puerto Aysen Rosa Navarro noted that although there are opponents to this initiative, most of the local community wants progress.
Despite the support, environmental groups said they will exhausted all administrative and judicial instances to paralyze the plant. Among the possible ways to address the Ministers Committee or introducing new protection resources against the project.
Next Steps
After getting the green light with Cuervo, Energía Austral will concentrate its efforts on defining the route of the transmission line about 600 kilometers linking the complex with the Central Interconnected System (SIC). A few weeks ago the company said it is evaluating the possibility of laying it on a 100% underwater to reduce their environmental impacts.
In addition, the presentation will advance to environmental process of the other two plants Blanco and Condor in order to become operational in 2021.
Source: El Mercurio
