By C.J. Schexnayder
Construction on Chile’s largest hydroelectric initiative, the 2,750-MW HidroAysén project, is awaiting final approval by the country’s environmental agency, which is expected to respond by next month.
HidroAysén-a joint venture between Chilean power utilities Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA and Colbun SA-submitted its environmental impact assessment on April 15. A decision by the Chilean government on the environmental license for the project is expected in May.
HidroAysén involves construction of five powerplants with an installed capacity of 2,750 MW; the project is located on the Baker and Pascua rivers in the Aysén region of Chile.
Transporting the power from Patagonia to the country’s urban center would require construction of a 2,300-kilometer-long transmission line. Approval of the power lines is expected to be a serious hurdle and much of the environmental opposition to HidroAysén has focused on the transmission component.
Cost estimates for the project are $3.2 billion for the dams and $2 billion for the power lines. If approved, construction is slated to begin by the end of 2014 and be completed within five years.
Fonte: Estadão
