Argentina watch: IFC renewable financing, shovel-ready wind farms, transmission tender

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide US$130mn to Banco Galicia, in part to finance renewable energy projects in Argentina.

"While still in its early days, sustainable energy financing has significant potential in Argentina," the IFC said in a statement, citing market-friendly reforms undertaken by President Mauricio Macri's government.

The package includes a five-year tranche to expand long-term access to financing for SMEs, mainly in the agribusiness sector, and a seven-year tranche to foster investments in clean energy sources "including solar, wind, biomass and geothermal ... as well as energy efficiency and water efficiency projects [to] promote better use of resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional sources," said the IFC, which is the private sector arm of the World Bank.

WIND FARMS

In related news, Argentine energy trading firm Saesa provided details of 15 ready-to-build wind farms totaling 879MW that it has identified in the country.

In addition to a government tender for 1GW of new renewable capacity, Saesa has launched an open season call designed to help large energy consumers obtain competitive PPAs with renewable producers.

The wind projects are listed below:

NAME: Arauco

DEVELOPER: PE Arauco Sapem (joint venture, majority state-owned)

PROVINCE: La Rioja

LOCALITY: Valle de la Puerta

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50MW

***

NAME: Pampa del Castillo

DEVELOPER: Aires Renewables

PROVINCE: Chubut

LOCALITY: Pampa del Castillo

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 80MW

***

NAME: Malespina

DEVELOPER: IMPSA

PROVINCE: Chubut

LOCALITY: Malespina

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50MW

***

NAME: Loma Blanca (multi-phase)

DEVELOPER: Isolux Corsan

PROVINCE: Chubut

LOCALITY: Trelew

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50-150MW

***

NAME: Puerto Madryn (multi-phase)

DEVELOPER: Engasud

PROVINCE: Chubut

LOCALITY: Puerto Madryn

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50-150MW

***

NAME: Vientos del Secano

DEVELOPER: ABO Wind

PROVINCE: Buenos Aires

LOCALITY: Buratovich

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50MW

***

NAME: Las Armas

DEVELOPER: ABO Wind

PROVINCE: Buenos Aires

LOCALITY: Las Armas

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50MW

***

NAME: La Banderita

DEVELOPER: ABO Wind

PROVINCE: La Pampa

LOCALITY: General Acha

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50MW

***

NAME: PE Del Alto Valle (PEAV)

DEVELOPER: ABO Wind

PROVINCE: Neuquén

LOCALITY: Bajada del Chocón

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 100MW

***

NAME: Central Argerich

DEVELOPER: EEDSA-Oscar Balestro

PROVINCE: Buenos Aires

LOCALITY: Villariño

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 60MW

***

NAME: Neuquinos I

DEVELOPER: EEDSA-Oscar Balestro

PROVINCE: Neuquén

LOCALITY: Collon Cura

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 100MW

***

NAME: Central Serrana

DEVELOPER: EEDSA-Oscar Balestro

PROVINCE: Buenos Aires

LOCALITY: Northeast Bahía Blanca

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 69MW

***

NAME: La Americana-Zapala

DEVELOPER: ADI-NQN-WPA

PROVINCE: Neuquén

LOCALITY: Zapala

INSTALLED CAPACITY: 50MW

SUBSTATION

Five firms presented offers in a tender launched by Córdoba province's state-owned energy company EPEC for a transformer station and underground 132kV transmission line.

The transmission works will require 385mn pesos (US$27.7mn) of investment, a local government statement said, and benefit 35,000 users in provincial capital Córdoba city.