Argentinean steel and aluminium firms plan new and expanded wind farms

Two of Argentina’s largest energy consumers – steelmaker Acindar and aluminium producer Aluar – are preparing new investments in wind energy in southern Chubut province, the companies have said.

Acindar, the local arm of global steel giant ArcelorMittal, has agreed with chemicals firm Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia to invest $140 million in building the San Luis Norte wind farm in southern province of Chubut.

The project will feature 17 of Vestas’s V150 4.5MW turbines, installed on 90-metre towers. It will increase capacity by 76.5MW and is expected to come onstream during the second half of 2023. In addition, the companies will install a 10MW solar park

It will allow Acindar to cover 30% of its electricity needs from renewable sources.

“Adding renewable energies to our plant’s energy supplies not only brings a benefit to the company, but also to the economy as a whole, since electrical capacity is released for other purposes and the demand for foreign currency is reduced,” said Acindar CEO Everton Negresiolo.

Expansion for aluminium

Meanwhile, aluminium firm Aluar announced that it will invest $130 million to install 18 turbines with power ratings of 4.5MW at its namesake wind farm near Puerto Madryn.

Due to begin operating from December 2023, the fourth stage expansion will increase its capacity by 81MW to 246MW.

The energy generated will supply Aluar’s primary aluminium plant in Puerto Madryn, “anticipating and exceeding the requirement of the national regime to promote the use of renewable sources,” said Aluar chairman Alberto Martinez Costa in a statement to the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, Argentina’s top renewables firm Genneia plans to invest $200 million developing the 103.5MW La Elbita La Elbita (103.5MW) OnshoreTandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, Central & South America Click to see full details wind farm near the city of Tandil plus a 60MW solar park in the western province of San Juan after winning priority dispatch at the latest auction in Argentina’s large consumer market.