Chile: Construction of New 33 MW Addition to Cerro Pabellon Geothermal Plant Begins

Enel Chile, ENAP start building 3rd unit at Cerro Pabellon geothermal plant (Renewables Now)

Pampa Apacheta, by Silke Lohmar, Santiago, Chile. GRC Photo Contest 2017.

Geotermica del Norte SA, a joint venture (JV) between Enel Green Power Chile and Chilean state-owned oil company Empresa Nacional del Petroleo SA (ENAP), has initiated the construction of a third generating unit at the Cerro Pabellon geothermal power plant to add 33 MW of new capacity.

The plant expansion will come with an investment of around USD 100 million (EUR 90.1m). The new unit is expected to start operations in the second half of 2020.

Located in the Atacama Desert in the Chilean region of Antofagasta, the Cerro Pabellon plant consists of two units of 24 MW each already in operation. Once the third unit goes live, the plant will generate 600 GWh per year.

Italian energy group Enel SpA, through its Chilean renewables unit, controls Geotermica del Norte with a 51% stake. Other shareholders are ENAP, holding 48.6%, and Chilean state-owned mining company Codelco with a 0.4% stake.

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