Two Argentinean companies have signed an agreement with the Mendoza government to construct and operate the Potrerillos hydropower plant.
José Cartellone Con- strucciones Civiles SA (JCCCSA) and Industrias Metal- úrgicas Pescarmona SA (IMPSA) have a 70 per cent and 30 per cent share of the project, respectively. The total investment for the work totals US$350M and the contract is on a BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis.
The Potreillos project includes the construction of a 110m dam, the new Cacheuta hydropower plant and the enlargement of the existing Alvarez Condarco plant. Described as being essential to the development of the Mendoza city in west Argentina, the project will regulate the flow of the Mendoza River and supply 760GWh of electricity a year (25 per cent of the province’s present needs).