Multi-purpose infrastructure project would provide reliable, low-carbon electricity to Colombia, establish digital infrastructure hub
Black & Veatch, a leading provider of low-carbon energy infrastructure solutions, has been selected to conduct the technical, engineering and commercial studies of the Andes Energy Terminal (AET) located in the Aguadulce Peninsula in Buenaventura, Colombia. The study will build on commercial and technical work previously completed by the sponsors and focus on the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification facility and 400 megawatts (MW) of natural gas-powered generation assets, in order to deliver reliable electricity to cities in central and southwestern Colombia.
With economic growth returning in many sectors and robust GDP projections, Colombia is anticipated to experience power generation shortfalls in 2022 and consistent natural gas deficits by 2023, even as global LNG production soars. The AET seeks to aid Colombia’s energy transition to more sustainable power sources and add resilience and reliability to an electric grid heavily reliant on hydro generation assets that are subject to weather-related production variance. In addition, the AET looks to develop a hyperscale data center and new facilities for storing liquid fuels, including infrastructure to meet the emerging opportunity in the hydrogen market.
“Our energy terminal reflects a forward-looking approach to solving Colombia’s energy and data infrastructure needs,” said Manuel Tenorio, Chairman, Andes Energy Terminal. “By combining fuel supply, efficient and sustainable power generation, storage and data infrastructure in one location, we can achieve significant efficiencies to reduce the overall environmental footprint of the project and provide a strong basis for much needed investment in the Southwest region of Colombia.”
The AET is strategically located within the Bay of Buenaventura presenting an opportunity to build a multi-purpose infrastructure project leveraging a natural deep-water port that provides ease of access, rights of way and simplified permitting due to its location near the Port of Buenaventura. The Port is considered the main foreign trade port in Colombia with roughly 65% of international cargo mobilized through its facilities.
The feasibility studies, which are funded by a grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), will verify the proposed project site’s suitability, define the project design requirements, and estimate capital and operating costs. It also will assess the financial viability and define financing options while preparing a detailed implementation and construction plan.
Black & Veatch, founded in 1915, is a global engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and consulting company specializing in infrastructure development in power, oil and gas, water, telecommunications, government services, mining, and data centers. Black & Veatch is the 7th largest majority employee-owned company in the United States and ranked No.2 in power design by Engineering News-Record, which compiles and publishes rankings of the largest construction and engineering firms annually, measured by gross revenues. The Company has more than 100 offices worldwide and has executed projects in more than 100 countries on six continents.
Andes Energy is also partnering with a world-leading strategic power solutions vendor, which will provide equipment, solutions and services for the power plant. The partner, who remains undisclosed, is active in more than 180 countries, with their technology producing a third of the world’s electricity.
“As outlined, this project provides the type of comprehensive planning critical to accelerating the energy transition and enabling greater grid resilience through more-connected infrastructure,” said Oscar Falcon, Managing Director of Latin America for Black & Veatch’s power business. “Across Central and South America, developers of ambitious projects like the Andes Energy Terminal demand thoughtful assessments by trusted experts in everything from LNG and electrical generation to energy storage and emerging technologies. Our expertise across the power market provides the surety developers and investors need to undertake projects of this scale and complexity.”
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Editor’s Notes:
- Phase I of the Andes Energy Terminal includes a 270-MW simple-cycle gas turbine to be upgraded to a 400-MW combined-cycle turbine in Phase II.
- Black & Veatch has delivered projects across Latin America for more than 45 years including delivery of more than 350 infrastructure projects across water, power, oil & gas and telecommunications in nine countries throughout Latin America.
- Black & Veatch is working to deliver feasibility studies central to the development for the Enegix 600 million kg/pa green hydrogen generation facility in Ceará, Brazil, the world’s largest proposed green hydrogen plant
- Black & Veatch served as owner’s engineer by Centrais Elétricas de Sergipe S.A. (CELSE) for a 1,516 megawatt combined cycle power project in northeastern Brazil.
- Black & Veatch served as designer and engineer of record for the Escondida Water Supply Project in Antofagasta, Chile.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2020 exceeded US$3.0 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.
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