- Title: President Evo Morales inaugurates its largest solar park in western Bolivia
- Date: 10th September 2018
- Summary: VARIOUS OF LOCALS TAKING PART IN TYPICAL DANCES DURING INAUGURATION EVENT WOMAN DANCING DURING EVENT
- Embargoed: 24th September 2018 17:39
- Keywords: Bolivia's Evo Morales inaugurates largest solar park Potosi region Uyuni
- Location: UYUNI, BOLIVIA
- City: UYUNI, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Company News Markets,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0048X1OR43
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Bolivia's President Evo Morales inaugurated what it considers to be its largest multi-megawatt solar park in Uyuni, in the western region of Potosi on Saturday (September 8).
The photovoltaic power station has a capacity to generate 60 megawatts (MW) and cost at least $62 million dollars, helping to reduce the domestic consumption of some 880,000 inhabitants in the area. The park will produce half the energy needed by the department of Potosi.
According to local media reports the solar plant consists of 196,952 photovoltaic modules fixed in 7,034 tables in a space of 105 hectares.
Morales highlighted the project's environmental benefits during the inauguration ceremony in the Potosi municipality of Uyuni.
The investment was financed by Denmark and Bolivia's National Energy Company (ENDE). It surpasses in capacity an earlier park that operates in the Amazon department of Pando, inaugurated in July 2015.
Morales said he wanted to start exporting solar energy to Argentina next year, as part of his goal to make Bolivia the energy centre of South America.
"And now at maximum capacity, we have 1500 megawatts of domestic demand but we are generating 2100 megawatts (in the country). We have an excess of energy. A moment ago our brother minister (Bolivian Energy Minister Rafael Alarcon) was saying that we are getting prepared to export and we are installing the power supply from Bolivia to Argentina. Hopefully we will have time so that next year we can be exporting 100 megawatts to Argentina," Morales said.
Locals took part in the inauguration ceremony of the park, with typical dances and with the presentation of musical groups. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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