Vicuña copper project secures priority access to 500 kV transmission line in Argentina
Argentina’s National Regulator of Gas and Electricity (ENREGE) ratified Vicuña’s priority access to a 500 kV transmission line, granting the company 90 % of the line’s capacity. The decision, to be published in the Official Gazette, clears the way for the San Juan copper project’s power supply.
ENREGE addressed objections from the San Juan Provincial Electricity Regulator (EPRE), the La Rioja Energy Secretariat, and mining firms Barrick Mining, Andes Corporación Minera, Golden Mining and Casposo Argentina, stating the challenges reflect sectoral interests rather than technical grounds.
The approved transmission works represent roughly US$800 million of private investment and will not affect electricity tariffs for consumers. Transenerva has been designated to operate and maintain the new installations.
Separately, a five‑day public consultation was opened for the aggregate quarries that will supply construction material for the Josemaría phase of the Vicuña project, allowing access to the associated environmental impact report.
Entities: BHP · ENREGE · Lundin Mining · Transenerva · Vicuña
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The transmission works for Vicuña involve roughly $800 million of private investment, with no cost passed to electricity tariffs. (ENREGE)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A public consultation on aggregate quarries for the Josemaría component of Vicuña was opened for five working days. (Secretaría de Gestión Ambiental y Control Minero)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The environmental impact report for the quarry activity is available for public review during the consultation period. (Secretaría de Gestión Ambiental y Control Minero)
- [● 2 SOURCES] ENREGE ratified priority access for Vicuña to a 500 kV transmission line, allocating 90 % of its capacity. (ENREGE)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Regulator ENREGE dismissed objections from EPRE, La Rioja’s Energy Secretariat, and mining firms Barrick Mining, Andes Corporación Minera, Golden Mining and Casposo Argentina. (ENREGE)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Transenerva was appointed to operate and maintain Vicuña’s transmission installations. (ENREGE)