Geotermia Andina planning geothermal plant in Argentinian Jujuy province

Alexander Richter 12 May 2009

Reported locally earlier this spring, Argentinian company Geotermia Andina is considering installing a geothermal power generation plant near the Tuzgle Vulcano in the northern Argentine province of Jujuy. The directors of the company, Giorgio Stangalino, Alejandro Condeserra and geologist Eduardo Marquina have raised the issue before Governor Walter Barrionuevo.

The unit will require an investment of US$35 million, and will add to the electrical system about 20MW. Production is scheduled to begin in two years.

Jujuy has great potential in terms of exploitation of geothermal energy and the government has made it one of its priorities. The area near the volcano Tuzgle was studied 30 years ago and even though the results were positive, the technology was not considered viable, a key point that has changed now.

Geotermia Andina has been awarded exploration permits and – according to the governor Barrionuevo- Canadian and American firms have expressed interest in investing in the venture.

Condeserra indicated that the company will add to existing studies new geophysical information for the area. The amount of investment needed for field and exploration work is estimated around $10 million, and the power generation plant and other logistics will require another 25 million.

This will be extended to a second module, a geothermal modular field, which would increase power generation to 60MW and would represent approximately $130 million.

In Argentina research indicates that there are 25 geothermal areas with favorable characteristics. For high enthalpy projects the following areas have been considered: Tuzgle, Domuyo, Copahue-Caviahue and Valle del Cura.

Low-enthalpy zones include Cerri, Medanos, Carrindanga, Caimancito, La Quinta, El Palmar, Tacorralo-Rio Hondo, Rio Valdez, Santa Teresita, Suriyaco, Columbus, Villa Elisa, Federación, Concordia, La Paz, Chajarí , Larroudé, Telsen, Gan Gan, Roque Saenz Peña and San Ignacio.”

Work on environmental studies for the area is expected to start this spring, and the first 5 MW turbine could be installed within 3 to 6 months. Fellows Energy is one of the investors in the project, and Geothermia Andinahas said that other US firms and Canadian companies are interested in investing in the plant.

Source: Green Momentum