Argentine provinces form commission to present hydropower concessions proposal

Argentine provinces Neuquén and Río Negro are sharpening their focus on hydroelectric power ahead of the scheduled expiry of several concessions in 2023.

Officials will form a joint commission to analyze the state of play at plants on the Limay and Neuquén rivers on the border of the two provinces and devise a proposal to present to federal authorities, the Río Negro government said in a statement.

They have 120 days to draft the document, which will encompass the areas of engineering, environmental protection and priority works.   

The provinces have previously said they wanted to regain control of the plants, according to local press reports. 

Neuquén governor Omar Gutiérrez and his Río Negro counterpart Arabela Carreras (in photo) “ratified the convenience and need to intervene in everything related to the administration, operation, maintenance, commercial usage and conservation of hydroelectric facilities,” Río Negro province said. 

In a tweet, Carreras said: “Together with Neuquén governor @omargutierrezOk, we proclaim the rights over our water resources.”

Between June and December 2023, operating concessions awarded by the federal government for the El Chocón-Arroyitos, Piedra del Águila, Alicurá and Cerros Colorados complexes are due to expire.

Enel Argentina is operator of the Chocón-Arroyitos complex (1,363MW); Central Puerto is operator of Piedra del Águila (1,400MW); AES Argentina is operator of Alicurá (1,000MW); and Orazul Energy Argentina is operator of the Planicie Banderita plant (479MW) at Cerros Colorados.

Nationally, debate on the future of hydroelectric power concessions is ongoing.

The federal government is the authority "that will establish the scheme or model to implement to carry out both the operation and maintenance work, as well as the commercial usage," according to the statement.

Picture credit: Río Negro provincial government