Chile:

50 MW Cerro Pabellon Geothermal Project on Track for 2017  (SeeNews Renewables)

(Courtesy CIA.gov)

Chile's national oil company Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (Enap) is seeking to resolve pending issues for its 50 MW Cerro Pabellon geothermal project this year in order to have the first geothermal electricity for the country in 2017, CEO Malcelo Tokman told daily Pulso in an interview last week.

Enap expects to start the project this year after completing discussions with its partner, Italian company Enel Green Power SpA. The plant will be installed in Antofagasta region to produce 375 GWh a year for the Norte Grande Interconnected System (SING).

Enel Green Power holds 51% in the project, managed by the joint venture Geotermica del Norte. The companies obtained the environmental licence in 2012.

Tokman said that Chile has a huge geothermal energy potential but the challenge is to implement new technology.