This is the construction site of the Conra hydropower project photographed in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina on November 3, 2018. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Martin Sabara)
Calafate, Argentina, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Communications: Chinese enterprises build dreams of Argentina's "Centennial Dream" project - visit the world's southernmost hydropower station project
Xinhua News Agency reporter Ni Ruijie Wang Wei
The Patagonia region of southern Argentina is sparsely populated, and the world's few and continuing to grow Moreno glaciers bring abundant hydropower to the Santa Cruz River. More than 200 kilometers downstream of the glacier, a consortium of Chinese Gezhouba Group and Argentine enterprises is actively building two hydropower stations in Condocliffe and Labalangossa (hereinafter referred to as the "Konla Hydropower Station").
After nearly two years of environmental assessment certification, the project resumed construction in October 2017. José Castro, head of the La Barrancosa hydropower station, said that the hydropower project undertaken by Chinese enterprises is not only a key project for the development of hydropower resources in the southern region of Argentina, but also an important part of Argentina's "2020 Industrial Strategic Plan" and a "Centennial Dream" project.
The hydropower project is located in a bitter cold place, even in the best summer conditions, it is still cold and fierce. The reporter saw that due to the terrain, the wind speed at the construction site sometimes exceeded 100 kilometers per hour. Windproof jackets, sunglasses, hard hats, etc. are essential to work here, and even so, people will eat a mouth full of sand grains after a few words. If in winter, extremely low temperatures can make construction more difficult.
According to Yuan Zhixiong, executive deputy manager of the project department, in addition to being the southernmost hydropower station in the world, the Kongla hydropower station has also created three "bests": it is the largest project of China-Latin America cooperation, with a total investment of about 5.3 billion US dollars; it is the largest energy project under construction in Argentina, which can increase the power supply of argentina by 6.5% after completion; it is also the largest power investment project overseas by Chinese enterprises.
The significance of the Conra hydropower station to optimize Argentina's energy structure is self-evident. After completion, the project is expected to generate an average of 4.95 billion kWh of electricity per year, which can meet the daily electricity needs of about 1.5 million Argentine households and save $1.1 billion in foreign exchange for fuel imports every year.
Due to the proximity to the Moreno Glacier, where the water source comes from, how to avoid the impact of the hydropower station on the local environment is the first issue to be considered in the construction process. Yuan Zhixiong said that the height of the reservoir storage is 2.4 meters lower than the original plan, because the hydropower station is built on the Santa Cruz River, and in order to avoid the impact of the reservoir on the upstream Argentine Lake after the completion of the reservoir, the reservoir storage height will be lower than the water surface height of The Argentine Lake. In addition, the hydropower station has also designed fish channels and ecological bottom holes to strictly implement ecological protection requirements.
The reporter saw at the scene that the camp that can accommodate more than 5,000 people to work and live has begun to take shape. Despite its remote location, the camp is equipped with facilities such as a gymnasium and an indoor sports field to enrich the lives of the construction crew.
It is understood that the direct employment of project construction will exceed 5,000 people during the peak period, and the indirect employment will reach 15,000. More than 80% of the staff must be recruited locally, and the proximity to home and good treatment have made many locals compete to apply. China Gezhouba Group has discussed the training plan with the local government and trade unions, and has conducted special training for local recruiters such as equipment operators, reinforcement workers, and carpenters.
At present, the construction of the Conra hydropower station has brought many changes to the local area: high-grade roads have been opened along the two hydropower stations, banks that provide financing for the project have opened outlets on site, and the development of local tourism projects has also been promoted.
With the help of Chinese companies, Argentina is gradually realizing the "centennial dream" of self-sufficiency in electricity. With the continuous closeness and deepening of cooperation between China and Argentina, it is expected that more projects like the Conra Hydropower Station will help Argentina's economic and social development.
