HydroChile submits EIS for US$80mn hydro project

Chilean renewable power firm HydroChile submitted an EIS for the construction of a US$80mn hydro project in the Diguillín river valley in region VIII, according to documents filed with national environmental regulator Conama.

Pending approval, two run-of-the-river plants would be built 82km east of Chillán to add a total of 24MW of capacity to the central SIC grid.

The first part of the project dubbed Aguas Calientes, Central A, has a planned capacity of 13.5MW. Central B will add 10.5MW of capacity to the grid.

HydroChile expects to have the project operating by third quarter 2013, according to the documents.

Construction could begin in 2010, and HydroChile has held meetings with both local environmental authorities and residents.

The company earlier in the month submitted an EIS for the US$140mn, 50MW Río Puelche hydro project set for region VII.

In 2008, HydroChile submitted environmental studies to develop the 27MW El Paso plant and the 24MW San Andrés projects, both run-of-the-river plants planned for region VI.

The company is planning other projects and aims to inject around 250MW into the SIC by 2012, BNamericas previously reported.

Publication: Business News Americas - English News
Provider: Business News Americas
April 17, 2009