Argentina highlights energy, environmental benefits of Chinese built dams

Two dams currently being built in southern Argentina, in large part by Chinese companies, received a strong vote of confidence on Thursday from experts and former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

In an opinion piece published on Kirchner's official website, Federico Bernal, director of the Observatory of Energy, Technology, and Infrastructure for Development (OETEC) emphasized the "economic and energy benefits that the dams represent ... for the country."

"Furthermore, they represent strategic ties with (China) and almost 13 billion U.S. dollars in investments on various infrastructure projects," he said.

He added that the dam project had been subject to a public hearing on Dec. 9 in the province of Santa Cruz, as such audiences are "a fundamental instrument for our environmental policy, which is based on citizen participation."

"The dams' environmental impact assessment was presented by the companies in charge of construction and energy generation. The hearing lasted from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., during which time 61 themes received comments and opinions from the public," Bernal wrote.

The themes discussed included flora and fauna protection, safeguarding the glacier, the expropriation of certain properties, the use of fossil fuels at the site, and the norms by which the dams must abide.

"The government, local and national companies, and workers must come together in the common interest of all Argentineans to defend this project. Far from being a danger to the environment and society, it will help to bring about unprecedented social development, productivity and economic growth," continued Bernal.

The dams, named after former president Nestor Kirchner and former governor Jorge Cepernic, will provide 4 percent of the South American country's annual energy needs, estimated at around 5,000 GWh, for more than 1.5 million homes.

Harnessing the power of the region's large Santa Cruz River, the Kirchner hydroelectric station will produce 1,140 MW, while the Cepernic dam will produce 600 MW.

The China Gezhouba Group Corp. (CGGC) is one of the leading construction companies for the project, alongside Argentinean firms Hidrocuyo and Electroingenieria. Endi