Argentine official commends Chinese-built dams in revamping energy sector

An Argentine official on Tuesday commended China's constructive assistance in the construction of the two dams, which were set to boost renewable energy provision and promote development in the country's remote Patagonian region.

The two dams of Jorge Cepernic and Nestor Kirchner, built in in Santa Cruz province with a total of 4.71 billion U.S. dollars in Chinese financing, will help provide not just energy, but also a much-needed alternative to the traditional fossil fuels in the country's southern tip, said Daniel Redondo, energy planning secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mining, on the sidelines of an economic seminar.

State daily Telam quoted Redondo as saying the two countries are seeking to "minimize the environmental impact" of the dams and make them more environmentally friendly, so as to guarantee their feasibility.

"China's response was favorable," he noted.

"We are interested in changing the country's energy matrix, which currently consumes oil and gas by some 85 percent," he said.

He added that the government planned to "add 1,000 megawatts, half of which will be from renewable energy, and the other half from hydroelectric projects."

Redondo reaffirmed the government's commitment to the projects, which were brokered during the previous administration and are expected to generate 6,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs.

Named after former President Nestor Kirchner and former governor Jorge Cepernic, the dams will provide 4 percent of the South American country's annual energy needs, estimated at around 5,000 GWh, and provide energy to over 1.5 million homes. Endi