More than US$6M was spend on the CSR studies by HidroAysen, which is a joint venture of two leading energy companies in the country – Endesa Chile (51%) and Colbun (49%).
The studies were undertaken over 2006-7 and approximately 187,000 hours of work were investigated in the research undertaken by 370 specialists to investigate socio-environmental and economic issues, it said in a statement.
Public review of the information, data and methodology will be possible at a series of centres already set up for public consultation on the scheme. HidroAysen hopes to commence the procurement process from 2009 and construction is targeted to be completed eight years later.
The overall scheme consists of five plants on two rivers – two on the Baker river and three on the Pascua river – with annual average electricity production of 18,430GWh. All five schemes would require reservoirs to be built.
The Baker I plant in the municipality of Cochrane would have 660MW capacity and generate an average of 14,420GWh annually. The Baker II scheme would have a capacity of 360MW and generate 2,540GWh per year.
The three plants on the Pascua river (I, 2-I, and 2-II) would have capacities of 460MW, 770MW and 500MW, respectively. In terms of annual energy output, they would produce 3,020GWh per year, 5,110GWh per year and only 334GWh per year, respectively.
