Energía Austral’s transmission line is the infrastructure by which the energy generated at its plants will be supplied to the Central Interconnected Grid (SIC) either through the Economic Dispatch Centre (CDEC) or directly to non-regulated clients with which Energía Austral signs contracts. 

In its general characteristics, it will be a 500-kV direct current line with a length of approximately 800 km, including an underwater segment. In addition, it includes an alternating current collector system to pick up the energy generated by the Cuervo, Blanco and Cóndor plants, two transformer substations and two ground electrodes. In all, the project represents an investment of around US$1,500 million.

In 2008, Energía Austral signed a Framework Agreement with the Transelec transmission company in order to prepare a transmission project of its own. In 2009, Transelec presented the prefeasibility study for the line and, at the beginning of 2010, started the feasibility stage which is expected to have a duration of around 30 months.

In 2011, Energía Austral is working on a baseline environmental study in preparation for the project’s Environmental Impact Study. In parallel, it will continue to make every effort to develop the engineering for a transmission project based on the criteria of the minimum possible impact on the scenery, communities and productive activities and the implementation of the most appropriate compensation in the cases where this is required.    

It is estimated that the Environmental Impact Study will be submitted to the Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA) during the course of 2012.

It is important to note that Energía Austral has a transmission project that does not require third parties for its development, respects the legislation in force and minimises the environmental and social impact of its sources.