Siemens wins contract to build 580MW Guillermo Brown thermal power plant in Argentina

Siemens Energy has won a contract from Fideicomiso Central Termoelectrica Guillermo Brown for the turnkey construction of the 580MW Guillermo Brown thermoelectric power plant near the city of Bahia Blanca in the Buenos Aires province, Argentina.

According to the $800m contract, Siemens will provide power transmission infrastructure, fuel supply solutions and full service maintenance for ten years, and provide two SGT5-4000F gas turbines and two SGen5-1000A generators in a simple cycle configuration.

Along with natural gas, the $900m plant, which will be 70% financed by the state, can also operate using diesel and biodiesel.

The transmission and fuel supply infrastructure includes construction of a 500kV substation, a 9km 500kV line to connect the project to the SADI national grid; a 2km gas pipeline and a quay for liquid fuel supplies (biodiesel and diesel) with an associated pipeline.

In August 2013, the developer solicited bids for the construction of a 500kV transmission line between Bahía Blanca and Mar del Plata.

Additionally, Siemens is undertaking infrastructure works at the port to unload fuel, high-voltage transmission lines, switchyard and fuel pipe lines for the plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned in March or April 2015.

Siemens will construct the plant, while AES Argentina will operate the 580MW facility, the capacity of which was earlier envisioned as 300MW. The owner has plans to add a 290MW steam turbine in the future that would increase the plant's capacity to 870MW.

The project is likely to create around 500 direct and 1,500 indirect construction jobs, as well as 50 direct and 150 indirect permanent jobs for operations.

Central Termoelectrica Guillermo Brown CEO Milton Perez said that Guillermo Brown has selected Siemens because of its capability to provide cost-effective, efficient and reliable power generation solutions.

"We chose the Siemens solution because it meets our requirements in terms of local investment and operating costs as well as performance and efficiency, all supported by an experienced team of local specialists," Perez said.