Atacama Gas Pipeline

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Atacama Gas Pipeline, also called Gasoducto Atacama, is an operating natural gas pipeline in Argentina and Chile.

Location

The pipeline originates in Colonel Cornejo, Salta province, Argentina, and terminates at the Atacama power station in Mejillones, Chile. A side branch, the Taltal Gas Pipeline, splits from the main line just east of Mejillones and heads 226 km south to the Taltal Power Station in Paposo.

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Project Details (Main Line)

• Operator: Gas Atacama Chile SA
• Owner: Enel Generación Chile SA (97.4%), others (2.6%)
• Parent Company: Enel SpA
• Capacity: 1.97 bcm/y (5.4 MMm³/d)
• Length: 1167 km
  • Main line: 941 km
  • Taltal branch line: 226 km
• Diameter:
  • Main line: 20 inches
  • Taltal branch line: 12 inches, 16 inches
• Status: Operating
• Start Year: 1999
• Associated infrastructure:
  • Atacama power station
  • Taltal power station

Background

Construction of the Gas Atacama pipeline began in 1997, and it was completed in 1999, around the same time as the first unit of Gas Atacama's combined cycle thermal power plant north of Antofagasta, Chile.

Technical description

The pipeline is 941 km (585 mi) long and 20 inches in diameter, with a capacity of 5.4 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, or 1.97 billion cubic meters per year.

The pipeline's Argentine section runs for 530 km, starting in Coronel Cornejo (Salta) and heading 230 km southwest through the Province of Jujuy before turning northwest, passing through the cities of San Salvador de Jujuy and Purmamarca, and crossing the Argentine puna to the Chilean border at Paso de la Jama. From here, the 411-kilometer Chilean section descends northwest towards San Pedro de Atacama, continuing to Calama and eventually reaching its terminus in the industrial zone of Mejillones. From Mejillones, the 226-kilometer Taltal pipeline branches off, continuing southwards through La Negra (Antofagasta) to the natural gas-fired Taltal power station in Paposo.

Operator

The pipeline is operated by Gas Atacama Chile SA, a subsidiary of Enel Generación Chile SA.