EGP’s new wind project is located in Northern Mexico, not far from the Texas border, and will be able to produce 200 MW. We talked about it with the Project Manager Pablo Martins.
In Northern Mexico, along the banks of the Rio Grande, the construction of our Amistad wind farm has begun. It will be able to produce 200 MW, enough to supply thousands of Mexican households with power.
“Amistad will be made up of 57 wind turbines, spread along the border between Mexico and the United States. It’s an interesting project that will be a huge challenge for the Group”, explained Pablo Martins, Project Manager, during our interview.
What is the greatest challenge you are facing for this project?
Definitely its position. The project started in the Northern part of State of Coahiula, only a few kilometres from Acuña, a town of twenty thousand inhabitants located near the Texas-Mexico border. The complexity lies in accessing the work sites, which need to be built from scratch.
How is the construction coming along?
We’ve started the construction of a provisional road. Due to the size of the project, we had to ask all the municipalities involved for several permits, all with different handling times. First of all, it was fundamental to find a way to reach the park and start setting up the worksite in order to start construction. So, in collaboration with EGP’s Business Development department, we came to a concession agreement for a part of the existing road in order to improve it and to have a temporary access to the wind farm. The road is 85 kilometres long and we have finished 23 kilometres. So, we are on track, but the project is going ahead at a fast pace in order to provide an access road to the wind farm.
When will we see the Amistad project become a reality?
The so-called Commercial Operation Date (COD) is set for 1 July 2018 and I am sure the time schedule will be respected. All of our work, all the effort of the EGP team within the wind farm is aimed at reaching this goal while respecting our safety and sustainability standards at the same time. I have great confidence in the project team, since the people involved are prepared and committed. The construction does not only concern the Project Manager, but all the parties involved, from the EGP team to the members of the local communities and the contractors.
How did you experience the start of such an ambitious project as Amistad?
I joined Enel eight years ago. After my first experience in Brazil, I moved to Costa Rica for five years, where I supervised the Chucás project. Then, a few months ago, I arrived in Mexico for the construction of the Amistad wind farm. It is a new step towards a huge experience. At Amistad, I found some colleagues who had already worked with me in Costa Rica, so it was like seeing members of a large family again. Of course, moving to another country is a big step: I am from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a city with more than 8 million people, then I moved to Costa Rica with its 4 million people, and now here I am in huge Mexico City. You have to know how to adapt, but it is wonderful to travel the world and meet new people each time. I think this a great opportunity that working for Enel Green Power offers: you’ll always meet new colleagues ready to help you and make you feel at home.
