Peru’s Private Investment Promotion Agency (Proinversión) has awarded ACCIONA the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of an electric transmission network that will benefit 1.3m people in the regions of Cajamarca, Lambayeque and Tumbes, in the north of the country.

Transmission line and electricity exchange 

ACCIONA said that the contract consists of two projects, the 220kV Reque-Nueva Carhuaquero link, which includes substations, transmission lines and associated extensions, and the 220/60kV–75MVA Nueva Tumbes substation and the 60kV Nueva Tumbes–Tumbes transmission line.

Both projects have been commissioned by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines, and will guarantee a specialised, sustainable, high-quality electricity service. They will promote new productive, commercial and tourist activities in the regions, the statement added.

The works represent a total investment of US$54m, the Spanish firm said.

“The 220kV Reque–Nueva Carhuaquero link, substations, transmission lines and associated extensions will increase the transmission capacity between the towns of Chiclayo and Cajamarca by 300MVA in addition to the existing 150MVA, through a new link that will benefit 1.1m people. In this way, the increase in electricity demand in Peru’s northern area (Cajamarca and Lambayeque) will be covered, and a suitable interconnection between Peru and Ecuador will be facilitated by strengthening the electricity exchange with this neighbouring country, the statement said.

“The 220/60kV–75MVA Nueva Tumbes substation and the 60kV Nueva Tumbes–Tumbes transmission line will benefit 246,000 people and will fundamentally prevent the overload of the old Zorritos substation currently in operation, covering the projected growth in electricity demand in the area for the next 15 years,” it added.

Each concession will last 30 years after the start of commercial operations, scheduled for February 2026 and April 2025, respectively.

Peruvian construction projects and experience

ACCIONA has extensive experience in the Peruvian infrastructure market, it said. The company has been present since 1998 and has developed a number of major projects in the water treatment sector, such as the Talara desalination plant, the La Chira wastewater treatment plant, and the Arequipa water treatment plant, it pointed out.

Furthermore, ACCIONA is also in charge of water management in Lima for Sedapal, the state company handling the Peruvian capital’s drinking water and sewage treatment. It has also carried out construction works for key project, such as the Daniel Alcides Carrión hospital and the Pucallpa prison.

Since early 2019, ACCIONA has also been involved in Peru's mining sector through the construction of a pumping system for the Antamina project's copper ore processing plant in the province of Huari, it added.

Finally, earlier this year, ACCIONA Energía announced its first project in Peru, the construction of the 131.1MW San Juan de Marcona wind farm in the department of Ica.