El Manzano hydropower plant starts operationsPublished: May 14, 2009
With an investment of over U.S. $ 10 million, this is one of the milestone Renewable Energies projects in the Araucanía Region.
El Manzano Small Hydropower Plant was recently inaugurated. The project involves a run-of-river hydroelectric plant which generates 4.7 MW. The plant harnesses the waters of the El Manzano River, located in Melipeuco, some 80km from the city of Temuco in the Araucanía Region.
The project is part of the Chilean Government efforts to promote energy diversification and the use of Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) in the country. The Chilean Economic Development Agency- CORFO has been promoting and attracting investments in NCRE for the last four years.
"These projects, which are in various stages of implementation, either in study, development, construction or operation, prove that this is an emerging sector in which Chile has enormous potential for growth. To make every effort in order to achieve that potential is imperative," said Patricio Fernandez, CORFO's regional director in La Araucanía, with regards to the implementation of NCRE projects in Chile.
"El Manzano is one of the milestone projects in La Araucanía Region. It responds to our efforts to promote innovation and to diversify the national energy matrix, exploiting the potential of the natural resources available in all Chilean regions," he added.
Total investment for El Manzano Hydropower plant reaches US$ 10.6 million. In the future, El Manzano expects to increase its generation capacity. The construction of this small power plant created 80 jobs of which about 80% came from the Cautín province, particularly from Melipeuco. The company currently provides employments for 17 people.
Sources:CORFO