CTA

active

The proposed project consists of the construction and operation of 2x165MWe circulated fluidized bed (CFB) technology thermal power units in northern Chile to be fired by a combination of coal, petroleum coke, and biomass fuels. The project sponsor is Suez Energy Andino (project sponsor), a subsidiary of Suez S.A. (France). The first 165MWe unit (Unit 1) is to be developed by Central Termoeléctrica Andina S.A., (CTA), while the second 165MWe unit (Unit 2), with essentially the same characteristics, will be developed through a separate special purpose company. The Unit 1 operator will be Empresa Electrica del Norte Grande S.A., (Edelnor), a company controlled by the project sponsor, which operates several energy generation assets in Chile’s Region I and Region II, including two pulverized coal and petcoke generation units with respective capacities of 165 MWe and 175MWe and a 250 MWe combined-cycle unit located adjacent to the proposed project site. The Unit 2 operator is to be determined at a later stage. Some operation facilities of the first 165MWe unit will be shared with the existing Edelnor facilities as well as Unit 2. If IFC is requested to participate in the financing of Unit 2, O&M of the second unit will be conducted according to the Environmental and Social standards of the IFC.The project will be connected to the grid through the existing Chacaya substation, which is adjacent to Edelnor’s existing facility and therefore adjacent to the project. Electricity transmission to the principal offtaker for Unit 1 will require either the construction of a new stretch of approximately 200 km of double circuit transmission line (Chacaya – Crucero) or the new construction of a new stretch of approximately 110 km of double circuit transmission line to connect to the existing transmission line between Crucero – Escondida and the construction of a new substation (called COBRE) at the connection between the new and existing line. Final choice of optimal solution is under study. The project will require limestone for sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions control to be sourced from a yet to be determined mine, and potentially the construction of a new ash disposal site