Engie, one of the largest electricity generation companies in the country, announced that as of June 16, 2023, the Punta Lomitas Wind Power Plant began its commercial operation, after receiving the approval of the Economic Operation Committee of the National Interconnected System (COES).
“The Punta Lomitas Wind Power Plant has created a precedent in the Peruvian electricity sector, as it is the first renewable energy plant to be developed as a result of an agreement between two private companies. As such, it does not generate any cost in the electricity toll and no cost to the final consumer, since it did not need an auction or any type of subsidy from the state”, stated El Mehdi Ben Maalla, CEO of ENGIE Energía Perú y Country Manager Peru.
The plant has a nominal capacity of 260 MW and, together with its 36.4 MW expansion project to soon enter commercial operation, make it the most important wind farm of its kind in Peru.
It is located in the district of Ocucaje (Ica region) and has 50 wind turbines, two electrical substations and 60 km of transmission lines that connect the plant with the National Interconnected Electrical System (SEIN).
Punta Lomitaswith a total investment of approximately US$300 million, will allow a reduction of 230,000 tons of CO2 per year for the benefit of the environment. During the construction period, the project generated a peak of 1,000 jobs, of which 100% of this (unskilled) labor was of local origin, from the direct impact communities of the Ocucaje district (Ica). .
Power source for Quellaveco
The production of this plant will support the electricity demand of Quellaveco, a copper project developed by Anglo American and Mitsubishi Corporation, with renewable energy sources. making it the first large mining company in Peru to use 100% green energy for its operations.
“Punta Lomitas It is an important milestone for our transformation plan in the country. In December 2022, we retired our Ilo21 coal-fired plant and now put 260 MW of renewable energy into the Peruvian electrical system. A clear example of how we execute the energy transition of the Peruvian market in a sustainable way”, said César Cornejo, Managing Director Renewables of Engie in Peru.
Source: Larepublica
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