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Miner hopes
06 February 2012
Chilean power producers promise a blockbuster year for new financings, if they can overcome environmental concerns and win offtake agreements. Edward Russell reports from Santiago.
Chile’s electricity generators have seen it all. The country’s seesawing choices between fuel sources has led, in turn, to hydroelectric, natural gas and coal-fired booms during the past decade, but may finally be reaching a happy equilibrium.
Coal and hydro are emerging as the mixture of fuels that will power the growth in Chile’s generating fleet. Both have their drawbacks, including the environmental permitting issues with both hydro and coal, and concerns over the emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases from coal-fired facilities. But given that Chile lacks other large-scale generating options or an effective renewable energy incentive programme, they are the only feasible options on the table.
After the permitting crunch, the PPA crunchAt least five big coal-fired and hydro power projects could reach financial close in 2012.
AES Gener, E-CL and MPX Energia are between them looking to add an additional 4.29GW of capacity, split between the...
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