Source: Pulverized coal
Phase: Granted license
Referred to as the largest electricity project in Chile, UTE Castilla will be a pulverized coal-fire thermoelectric power plant with up to 2.100 MW installed capacity - equivalent to 20% of Chile’s current installed capacity - and one 127 MW diesel oil unit.
The plant will be built inside EBX Group owned 240 thousand hectares Fazenda Castilla, 80 km from the city of Copiapó.
Besides contributing to provide additional safety to Chilean system power supply, UTE Castilla will stand out for using the Clean Coal Technology that includes dedicated equipment such as sleeve filters to reduce emission of particulate matter, flue gas desulfurizers (FGD) for reducing sulfur dioxide content and selective catalytic reducers (SCR) / “Low NOx”-type burners, to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
Responsible growth
The construction of a pilot plant for research and culture of algae, capable of reducing plant carbon gas emissions, is yet another initiative implemented by MPX, in accordance with the best sustainability practices in the world.
In parallel to thermal plant construction, a seawater desalinization plant will be built, aiming at industrial water supply to the MPX plant and to the mining companies installed in the region.
Project construction will generate more than 2,100 job opportunities – besides the 270 permanent employees needed to run the plant.
It is estimated that in the future, 5.4 million tons of imported coal will be consumed by UTE Castilla. Full synergy with MPX, the Port of Castilla, and OMX private venture in Copiapó will facilitate the logistics services required to receive this fuel. Additionally, port terminal will broaden the commercial possibilities of other Chilean industrial segments, as for example the mining and food producing segments.
Until October 2011, UTE Castilla had already completed the qualification of 230 people. In partnership with Inacap, Santo Tomas, Cepa and Teplizky MPX offers courses on Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Welding, Electrical Installation, Microsoft Office, Marketing and Business Techniques, Hygiene and Food Product Handling Techniques and Stacker Operation and Maintenance.
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