Peru power watch: Environmental permitting, rural concessions, force majeure

Energías Eólicas del Perú (Enepsa) submitted documents to the country’s energy and mines ministry (Minem) for the 320MW Barlovento del Pacífico wind project.

Enepsa seeks approval of the citizen participation plan and reference terms, the latter of which will be used to prepare the semi-detailed environmental impact study.

Barlovento and its 220kV transmission line are planned for Lambayeque region, and the plant would boast 71 turbines.

The project would cost US$440mn and take 24 months to complete, according to Enepsa information, available here.

Meanwhile, Minem approved reference terms for Viridi Energías Renovables Desarrollos’ 200MW Babilonia solar project and Kallpa Generación’s 517MW Pacífico wind project.

Minem also approved a second modification to GR Vale’s environmental impact declaration for the Lupi solar project, which will increase to 181MW from 150MW.

The change is due to a technological improvement which will allow the use of more efficient photovoltaic panels, according to GR Vale.

Rural concessions

The ministry granted Oriental Renova and Renova Solaris Energía rural power concessions in Cusco region.

Oriental and Renova will supply 64,796 and 17,946 users, respectively, with autonomous photovoltaic systems.

Force majeure

The ministry accepted a force majeure request from Empresa de Generación Eléctrica Santa Lorenza for the US$55.3mn, 18.7MW Santa Lorenza I hydro project.

Information from energy and mining investment regulator Osinergmin shows that the company highlighted social conflicts with local communities in its request.

Physical advancement reaches 40% and the commercial startup date under the latest concession contract modification is January 2026.