The operator of Chile‘s northern SING grid published a study on the system, with the aim of ensuring the grid’s safe operation and preventing outages.
The operator, CDEC-SING, recommended the replacement of power switches and current transformers that are overburdened when the system suffers short circuits and failures, according to Business News Americas.
Power switches in need of replacement include four at the Crucero substation and one at the Mejillones substation, the report said.
The study’s release coincided with an outage last Friday affecting some 95,000 families in Atacama region (III).
CDEC-SING has proposed $258 million in expansion works, including projects to strengthen the grid’s trunk line system and to improve the supply of electricity to northern cities Iquique and Pozo Almonte.
The recommended works are outlined in a proposal that addresses scenarios including increased regional integration with neighbors Argentina and Peru as well as increased demand from the Collahuasi mine, the world’s largest copper operation.
