Earth Heat Resources submits EIA for Copahue project in Argentina
Cordillera, Cerca de Copahue, Argentina (source: flickr/ patricia_sgrignuoli, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
7 Tem 2011
Earth Heat Resources submits Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Copahue geothermal project in Argentina, which was completed by engineering firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM).
Reported by the company today, “Earth Heat Resources (ASX: EHR) has achieved a milestone few in the sector reach with the completion of the stage 1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to develop the Copahue geothermal project in Argentina.
The EIA was completed by engineering firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) on time and has been submitted to the regulatory authorities in Argentina, with a positive outcome expected by the company.
With the project on track, Earth Heat now expects receipt of the Concept Study stage 1 final report in the next 2-3 weeks.
The assessment is significant as it is instrumental in determining the presence of major issues and indicating mechanisms for minimising the impact of the proposed activities on the environment.
The EIA may be extended at a later date as part of any Bankable Feasibility Study undertaken by the company for the Copahue Project.
Torey Marshall, Earth Heat’s managing director, said “completion of the Stage 1 EIA is an important milestone for the company particularly as the Copahue Stage 1 Concept Study report nears completion by SKM.
“The company continues to demonstrate progress in the Copahue project which places EHR in a select group of developers worldwide.”
In May Copahue received a 150% jump in total resources interpreted from SKM, under the new Canadian Geothermal Code (CanGEA) classified resource estimate, in terms of electricity generating capacity and stored heat in place (based on P50 probability).
The resource provides significant scope for development at the project, with the potential energy generated for consumers in the Neuquen Province of Argentina.
The Copahue project is located 55 kilometres to the national electricity market interconnector, with a sealed bitumen road to the site from Neuquen City.
Other infrastructure includes power lines connected from the site to the nearby town of Caviahue, a plentiful water supply with oil field services and equipment in the Province.
Earth Heat has commenced the first phase in a Feasibility Study for the ‘fast track’ development of a 15 megawatt (MW) geothermal plant at the project.
Earth Heat intends to use the Feasibility Study to secure financing needed to accelerate the plant to reach production and ultimately generate cash flow.”
Source: ProActive Investors
