The order is the first of its kind for the G132-3.465 MW turbine, having been secured by the company from Parque Eólico Arauco SAPEM (majority-owned by the Argentine state) for Phases III and IV of the Arauco wind complex, located in the province of La Rioja, in western Argentina. The turbines are scheduled for deliverty in the second quarter of 2018 while commissioning of the facility itself is expected between the last quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.
“Execution of this order marks an important milestone for Siemens Gamesa as it reinforces its position in a market that presents tremendous upside in wind power” said José Antonio Miranda, CEO for Latin America. “This project falls under the scope of the RenovAr 1.5 project launched by the Argentine government in 2016 to foster investment in the renewable energy sector. The country has set itself the target of meeting 8 percent of demand for electricity from renewable sources in 2017 and 20 percent by 2025. With this order, we are stepping up our commitment to developing the local supply chain, as the manufacturing of the turbine towers was commissioned in Argentina, demonstrating our firm support for the successful implementation of the plan being championed by the government”.
The wind farm combines Spanish nacelles with locally-made towers, underlining the efforts by Siemens Gamesa to include local suppliers in its supply contracts, generating manufacturing jobs in the country. The country has also developed new suppliers in order to comply with the rules governing the agreements entered into with the Rioja-based firm, Parque Eólico Arauco, and its special-purpose companies. The project is the biggest wind power undertaking in central-northern Argentina and probably one of the biggest in the whole country.
Siemens Gamesa’s presence in Latin America is continuing to grow, having established itself as the top OEM in 2016. It is the second order secured by the company in Argentina in 2017, having closed a contract with the same customer in March for execution of phases I and II of the Arauco complex.
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