Chile and Argentina to decide in 2019 on best alternative for electricity interconnection

The Minister of Energy of Chile, Susana Jiménez, assured that during 2019 a decision will be made by the governments of Chile and Argentina on the best alternative for the electric interconnection, after the results of the evaluation report that is currently being prepared.

“The results of the studies will be ready in the first quarter of next year, so we will have at hand both the economic and technical feasibility of each of the alternatives, as well as the regulatory framework, which is basically concluded, and therefore a decision can be made as to which of these lines is the most favorable for both parties,” said the minister while participating in a meeting with her Argentine counterpart in Santiago.

In this context, the Secretary of Energy of the Government of Argentina, Javier Iguacel, emphasized that this should work in conjunction with the progress that has already been made in gas exports, pointing out that its importance lies in the synergies that can be achieved in this area.

“The next step now is not only to grow with gas, but also with the electrical interconnection. We are making great progress, we have 4 potential new high voltage crossings, we will have to choose which one is the best for both of us, and do it, because once we do it, when Chile has surpluses and the possibility of exporting to Argentina, Argentina will gladly receive it, and when we have surpluses, if Chile needs it, we will be there”, he said.

This study is being developed by the MRC-Sigla-Systep Consortium formed by the MRC Group of Companies of Spain, SIGLA S.A. of Argentina and Systep of Chile, which analyzes, among other issues, the economic dispatch simulations of both electricity systems considering up to four interconnection projects, taking into account the generation development scenarios of the two countries.