Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA (Endesa Chile) has presented its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the Environmental Impact Evaluation System (SEIA), an initiative involving an investment of $1,400 million for the construction and operation of a thermal power plant with 740 MW of installed capacity, through two 370 MW generation units. The power plant will generate an annual average of 2,380 GWh. The first unit of the power plant is scheduled to enter into operation in late 2013.
The study, which was presented to the National Environmental Commission (Conama) for the Atacama region, says that the power plant’s main source of fuel will be sub-bitumous coal. Both units will be fitted with sleeve filters or electrostatic precipitators to reduce particulate emissions, as well as NOx and SOx control systems.
The power plant will be built two kilometres to the north of the Punta Alcalde sector, in the municipality of Huasco, Atacama region.
The EIA contains a mitigation plan, the purpose of which is to reduce the possible effects of the construction and operational phases of the plant.
This initiative has been carried out in the context of Endesa Chile’s commitment to guaranteeing the country’s energy needs and diversifying its main electricity supply with power generation plants that use thermal, hydraulic and wind technology.
Endesa Chile is currently executing the 370 MW Bocamina II and 250 MW Quintero projects. Through its Non-Conventional Renewable Energy affiliate, Endesa Eco, the company is building a new wind farm, Canela II, in the Coquimbo region, that will increase the installed capacity of Canela I (18.15 MW) by a further 60 MW.