Endesa Chile, the Enel Group’s South American subsidiary, has inaugurated its new ‘satellite’ regasification terminal in the Chilean city of Talca, which will enable it to provide natural gas both to industrial and residential customers.
The regasification terminal, built in partnership with GasValpo (through its subsidiaries Energas and Productos Fernández), is a highly efficient, environmentally friendly and cost competitive energy alternative. The facility can store up to 120 m³ of natural gas. In the construction of the facility, GasValpo’s expertise in network building and natural gas distribution was combined with Endesa Chile’s know-how in natural gas road transport. In fact, the gas will be marketed by road, with the fuel being carried from the Quintero terminal by means of 40 m3 tankers, adequately chilled in order to keep the gas liquid. The Quintero terminal, of which Endesa Chile owns 20 percent, is located in the region of Valparaiso and is the main access point for natural gas imports in Chile.
The inauguration ceremony for the regasification terminal was attended by Chile’s Energy Minister Máximo Pacheco, the Governor of the region of Maule Pablo Meza and the Mayor of Talca Juan Castro. Enel was represented by Endesa Chile CEO Valter Moro: “We are proud to have embarked on a journey that will continue over time. The Talca facility, which marks the arrival of natural gas in this area, will be followed in the coming months by other regasification terminals in the cities of Los Andes, Coquimbo-La Serena and Temuco. This is the beginning of a new era for Endesa Chile, in line with the energy agenda of the Chilean government”, he said.
During the event, Minister Pacheco emphasised the importance of natural gas for the country’s energy sector and congratulated Endesa Chile and GasValpo for this fruitful partnership.