La Energía y sus Protagonistas

Salto Grande, the first bi-national Hydroelectric Complex in Latin America, is located on Uruguay River, with a 244,000 km2 basin and a 144 Km -long dam, covering an area of 78,000 ha, at Ayuí, a vast tourist area shared by Argentina and Uruguay.

This Hydroelectric Complex, with 1,890 MW installed capacity, has 14 generating units, 135 MW each, laid out in two machine rooms, and a 350- km transmission system of high voltage lines, plus four 500 kV transformer stations.

This is the only electrical link between both countries; its geographic position in MERCOSUR makes it a key place from the energy point of view.

Comisión Técnica Mixta de Salto Grande; Salto Grande Mixed Technical Committee is 61 years old, and it has been producing electric power for the last 28 years, being in charge of the operation and maintenance of this Hydroelectric Project according to the goals established in the Agreement subscribed in 1946, taking maximum advantage of the hydraulic resources, transmitting energy and serving the markets with quality, safety and reliability.

The records obtained clearly speak of the success reached from the beginning of the . The average of annual mean production during this period, with full equipment (8,394 GWh), is 25.3% above the originally predicted average as per design.

Likewise, this complex, visited by 100,000 people a year, has contributed to foster regional and tourist development.

Nature is duly preserved through the environmental care programs, involving the decision to implement an environmental ma-nagement system (ISO 14000), offering maximum safety to the dam and to coastal populations.

Today we are in a position to state that the initial goals are being fulfilled; the experience gained, jointly with the application of a qua-lity management system as per ISO 9000 standard, constitute the basis for continuous improvement. The qualified staff, closely identified with the responsibility for rendering this type of service, has brought about expert and efficient performance, in turn enabling to develop operation and maintenance techniques leading to improvements in design, so that most of the main equipment is currently in very good condition.

During the first six months of 2007, production of energy reached 4,608 GWh, up 44% on the historical average, through optimization of hydraulic resources (4,764 m3/s).

Likewise, advances in information technology have allowed for research and implementation of optimization techniques, both to foresee primary resources for our service and for its final delivery, as per the utmost internal and external safety standards.

Through the steely willingness to work and the aim to serve as demonstrated, the Commission is proud of its continuous search for constant improvement in relation to the goals aimed at, taking care at the same time of the social and economic setting of the project.

Institutional Information

Construction of Salto Grande Hydroelectric Complex was in charge of a Mixed Technical Commission, created in 1946 by the Governments of Argentina and Uruguay, and responsible for exploi-ting and managing the Complex.

The Commission is an International Agency by legal standards, and its Management is made up of an equal number of Delegates who are therefore respectively appointed by the aforementioned Administrations.

The Uruguayan Delegation to the Commission is formed by Eng. Enrique Topolansky, as Chairman, and Eng. Gabriel Rodríguez, while the appointment of the third member is in process.

The Argentine Delegation to the Commission is chaired by Ambassador Julio César Freyre, and its other members are Mr. Juan Carlos Chagas and Mr. Néstor Berterame.

Out of the total number of Delegates, every six months the Commission chooses its own authorities – Chairman, Secretary, Vice-chairman and Alternate Secretary – who take turns to hold office on the basis of nationality.

Pursuant to the above, the Chairman for the period 07.01.07 through 12.31.07 is Eng. Enrique Topolansky, while Ambassador Julio César Freyre is the acting Secretary.

Salto Grande, primer Complejo Hidroeléctrico Binacional en Latinoamérica, se encuentra sobre el río Uruguay, con una cuenca de 244.000 km2, un embalse de 144 Km. de largo, una superficie de 78.000 ha, a la altura del paraje Ayuí, una extensa área turística que comparten Argentina y Uruguay. El Complejo Hidroeléctrico, con una potencia instalada de 1.890 MW, está constituido por 14 unidades generadoras de 135 MW cada una, dispuestas en dos salas de máquinas y un sistema de transmisión asociado de 350 Km. de líneas de extra alta tensión, con 4 estaciones transformadoras de 500 kV. Único vínculo eléctrico entre ambos países, su posición en el Mercosur resulta ser un punto neurálgico desde el punto de vista energético. La Comisión Técnica Mixta de Salto Grande, con 61 años de existencia y 28 años de producción de energía eléctrica, opera y mantiene el Complejo Hidroeléctrico de Salto Grande en un todo de acuerdo con los objetivos establecidos en el Convenio del año 1946, aprovechando al máximo posible los recursos hidráulicos, transmitiendo y suministrando energía a los Mercados con calidad, seguridad y confiabilidad. A la luz de los acontecimientos, los registros obtenidos hablan a las claras del éxito obtenido desde el inicio de la explotación del Complejo. El promedio de la producción media anual durante este período, con equipamiento completo ( 8.394 GWh ) se ubica en un 25,3 % por encima de la prevista originalmente como diseño. Asimismo este Complejo, visitado por 100.000 personas al año, ha contribuido a favorecer el desarrollo regional y turístico. Todo esto sin descuidar la protección de la naturaleza a través de programas de vigilancia ambiental con la decisión de la implementación de un Sistema de Gestión Ambiental (ISO 14.000) y brindando máxima seguridad a la represa y poblaciones ribereñas. Hoy podemos afirmar que se están cumpliendo los objetivos iniciales y la experiencia adquirida, conjuntamente con la aplicación de un Sistema de Gestión de Calidad según Normas ISO 9.000, dan la base para una búsqueda permanente de mejoramiento. Estos logros son el resultado de combinar, la experiencia de tantos años, sumado a un equipamiento eficiente y un enorme capital, su potencial humano. Este grupo humano, plenamente consustanciado con la responsabilidad que significa la prestación de un servicio de esta naturaleza, ha consolidado una experiencia y eficiencia en el desempeño, que le permite desarrollar técnicas de operación y mantenimiento, efectuando mejoras en el diseño para disponer hoy de la mayoría del equipamiento principal en muy buenas condiciones. Asimismo, el avance informático ha permitido, investigar e implementar técnicas de optimización, tanto en previsión de los recursos primarios como en la disposición final de nuestro servicio con la máxima seguridad interna y externa. Durante el primer semestre de 2007, con la optimización del recurso hidráulico ( 4.764 m3/s ) se obtuvo una producción energética de 4.608 GWh, superior a la media histórica en un 44 %. Es motivo de orgullo para la Comisión Técnica Mixta de Salto Grande que, con la férrea voluntad de trabajo y vocación de servicio demostrada, se continúe en la búsqueda de una constante superación de los objetivos establecidos sin descuidar el entorno socio-económico en el cual está inserto el aprovechamiento. Información institucional La construcción del Complejo Hidroeléctrico de Salto Grande, estuvo a cargo de una Comisión Técnica Mixta - creada en 1946 por los Gobiernos de Argentina y Uruguay – bajo cuya responsabilidad se administra y explota el Complejo. Su naturaleza jurídica es la de un Organismo Internacional y la dirección está compuesta por igual número de delegados que, a tales fines, designan respectivamente los referidos Gobiernos. La Delegación Uruguaya ante la Comisión, está integrada por el Ing. Enrique Topolansky – en calidad de Presidente – y por el Ing. Gabriel Rodríguez, estando en trámite la designación de su tercer miembro. La Delegación Argentina ante la Comisión, está presidida por el Embajador Julio César Freyre, siendo sus otros integrantes, el Sr. Juan Carlos Chagas y el Sr. Néstor Berterame. Del total de Delegados, la Comisión elige cada seis meses, sus propias autoridades – Presidente, Secretario, Vicepresidente y Prosecretario - rotando en el ejercicio de los cargos por nacionalidad. Conforme a ello, por el período comprendido entre el 01.07.07 al 31.12.07, la Presidencia es ejercida por el Ing. Enrique Topolansky, actuando como Secretario el Embajador Julio César Freyre.	Salto Grande, the first bi-national Hydroelectric Complex in Latin America, is located on Uruguay River, with a 244,000 km2 basin and a 144 Km -long dam, covering an area of 78,000 ha, at Ayuí, a vast tourist area shared by Argentina and Uruguay. This Hydroelectric Complex, with 1,890 MW installed capacity, has 14 generating units, 135 MW each, laid out in two machine rooms, and a 350- km transmission system of high voltage lines, plus four 500 kV transformer stations. This is the only electrical link between both countries; its geographic position in MERCOSUR makes it a key place from the energy point of view. Comisión Técnica Mixta de Salto Grande; Salto Grande Mixed Technical Committee is 61 years old, and it has been producing electric power for the last 28 years, being in charge of the operation and maintenance of this Hydroelectric Project according to the goals established in the Agreement subscribed in 1946, taking maximum advantage of the hydraulic resources, transmitting energy and serving the markets with quality, safety and reliability. The records obtained clearly speak of the success reached from the beginning of the . The average of annual mean production during this period, with full equipment (8,394 GWh), is 25.3% above the originally predicted average as per design. Likewise, this complex, visited by 100,000 people a year, has contributed to foster regional and tourist development. Nature is duly preserved through the environmental care programs, involving the decision to implement an environmental ma-nagement system (ISO 14000), offering maximum safety to the dam and to coastal populations. Today we are in a position to state that the initial goals are being fulfilled; the experience gained, jointly with the application of a qua-lity management system as per ISO 9000 standard, constitute the basis for continuous improvement. The qualified staff, closely identified with the responsibility for rendering this type of service, has brought about expert and efficient performance, in turn enabling to develop operation and maintenance techniques leading to improvements in design, so that most of the main equipment is currently in very good condition. During the first six months of 2007, production of energy reached 4,608 GWh, up 44% on the historical average, through optimization of hydraulic resources (4,764 m3/s). Likewise, advances in information technology have allowed for research and implementation of optimization techniques, both to foresee primary resources for our service and for its final delivery, as per the utmost internal and external safety standards. Through the steely willingness to work and the aim to serve as demonstrated, the Commission is proud of its continuous search for constant improvement in relation to the goals aimed at, taking care at the same time of the social and economic setting of the project. Institutional Information Construction of Salto Grande Hydroelectric Complex was in charge of a Mixed Technical Commission, created in 1946 by the Governments of Argentina and Uruguay, and responsible for exploi-ting and managing the Complex. The Commission is an International Agency by legal standards, and its Management is made up of an equal number of Delegates who are therefore respectively appointed by the aforementioned Administrations. The Uruguayan Delegation to the Commission is formed by Eng. Enrique Topolansky, as Chairman, and Eng. Gabriel Rodríguez, while the appointment of the third member is in process. The Argentine Delegation to the Commission is chaired by Ambassador Julio César Freyre, and its other members are Mr. Juan Carlos Chagas and Mr. Néstor Berterame. Out of the total number of Delegates, every six months the Commission chooses its own authorities – Chairman, Secretary, Vice-chairman and Alternate Secretary – who take turns to hold office on the basis of nationality. Pursuant to the above, the Chairman for the period 07.01.07 through 12.31.07 is Eng. Enrique Topolansky, while Ambassador Julio César Freyre is the acting Secretary.

Enrique Topolansky y Julio César Freyre.

www.saltogrande.org