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Wind Power News: Argentina
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind farms graft probe: Audit report finds ‘irregularities’ and big profits for Mauricio Macri, Carlos Tevez
Auditors in Argentina have identified “serious irregularities” in bidding processes for the construction and oversight of wind farms to produce renewable energy during the 2015-2019 Mauricio Macri administration. Investigators at the AGN General Auditing Office probing alleged insider trading allegations drew the conclusion after investigating the tender of six wind farms in Argentina’s south. Among the famous names indirectly involved in the probe are the Macri Group, owned and operated by relatives and former business associates of Mauricio Macri, along . . . Complete story »
Wind farms may pose risks for condor repopulation program
Sierra Paileman, Argentina – It was a sunny morning when about 200 people trudged up a hill in southern Argentina’s Patagonia region with a singular mission: free two Andean condors that had been born in captivity. While members of the Mapuche, the largest Indigenous group in the area, played traditional instruments, and a group of children threw condor feathers into the air to symbolize their good wishes for the newly liberated birds, an eerie silence engulfed the mountain in Sierra Paileman . . . Complete story »
Gone with the Wind: Argentina’s former first family used Luxembourg companies to reap $70 million
Key Findings A Luxembourg company could hold the key to a corruption scandal that has swirled around Argentina’s former president, Mauricio Macri, and his family for years. Lares Corporation, set up by his brother, was part of an international chain of companies used to buy and sell six wind farms in deals that allegedly netted the Macris $70 million. Argentinian law enforcement, who have been probing the deal since 2018, say the discovery of the company may be an important . . . Complete story »
Argentina halts renewables rollout amid coronavirus
Like numerous countries under quarantine, Argentina has paused to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has more than 1,700 registered cases nationwide. The measure has paralysed the economy, and notably, Argentina’s recently reinvigorated renewable energy development, with numerous projects stalled. The new government of Alberto Fernández has limited movement throughout the country, only allowing Argentines to carry out essential activities such as food production and distribution. An extension to the initial three-week lockdown is being assessed. This has meant . . . Complete story »
Mapuche demand end to Chinese wind energy project for Bariloche
BUENOS AIRES – A Chinese renewable energy investment in Patagonia was halted after no agreement could be reached with the small Mapuche community living where the wind turbines were going to be installed. China’s Envision Energy SA had vowed to invest 56.7 million US dollars in Cerro Alto in the province of Rio Negro, 85 kilometers from Bariloche. In 2016 the company had won the tender in the first round of the RenovAr programme. The plan included 28 wind turbines . . . Complete story »
Latin American land owners are fighting to keep power lines out
Gilson Denardin always hated the towering transmission lines crisscrossing his farm in northeastern Brazil. So when he caught wind of plans to put up two more sets of wires, he decided to put up a fight. “It’s awful,” said the owner of 7,400 acres of farmland in Brazil’s Northeast. “My land loses its value with so many power lines.” Denardin is leading a local movement to force power companies to pay farmers more for their trouble, and he’s not alone . . . Complete story »
Macri Group under investigation for wind farm purchases
A federal court in Buenos Aires ordered a raid on the Energy and Mining Ministry where police seized documents containing information about companies linked to the Macri Group. The Macri Group is under investigation for alleged insider trading involving the purchase of six wind farms in the country’s south. A federal court in Buenos Aires ordered a raid on the Energy and Mining Ministry on Tuesday where police seized documents containing information about companies linked to the Macri Group, La . . . Complete story »
Macri Group buys, resells 6 wind farms skipping tender process
With the help of an accountant, the firm acquired the contracts from the Spanish company Isolux in 2016. Months later, they were sold to Genneia and the Chinese firm Goldwind for a turnover of US$ 15 million. During his time in office, former president Néstor Kirchner had a famous phrase which he used to justify shady business deals: “It’s a private issue”. President Mauricio Macri might want to adapt the phrase to his time in power: “It’s a private deal”. . . . Complete story »
Japanese govt plans 600MW wind project in Patagonia — Argentina
Japan’s government has presented a 600MW wind power generation project for the Patagonia region to Argentina’s energy secretary Daniel Cameron, Argentine government news agency Telám reported. The prospective plant will call for the installation of 200 wind turbines with 3MW generation capacity each, covering northern Santa Cruz to southern Chubut province. The Japanese government wants a Japanese firm to construct the turbines; possible candidates include Nissan, Honda and Toyota. Further, the Japanese plan to install a 100m meteorological tower to . . . Complete story »
