IDB Announces Winners of 2015 Infrastructure 360º Awards

Projects in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico have won the 2015 Infrastructure 360º Awards, which showcase leadership in climate and environment, social impact, governance and innovation.

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Luis Alberto Moreno delivered the awards to three companies as part of the second annual ceremony of the Infrastructure 360º Awards, staged as part of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB, which took place in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 26 to 29 March.

IMG_2387-compressor(Left to right) Cristina Contreras and Judith Rodriguez, Research Associates from Harvard University; Claudia Toledo Matus Coordinator of community relationships at Acciona Energia; Veronica Parres Font, Director of Quality, Safety Environment and Social Responsibility at Acciona Energia, Ivan Araneda General Director at Abengoa Solar Chile, Ana Maria Vidaurre-Roche Principal Investment Officer at Inter-American Development Bank; Fernando Santos Reis CEO at Odebrecht Ambiental

The three awarded projects were:

People and Leadership award: EURUS S.A.P.I. Wind Farm

EURUS S.A.P.I. Wind Farm has been developed as one of the largest wind farms in the world, and it will cover 25% of the energy needs of CEMEX in Mexico. The project is located in La Venta, Mexico, and will utilize a total of 48 hectares within a site of 2,658 hectares. The wind farm operates with 167 wind turbines of 1,5 MW each, associated control facilities, and connected to the national grid through a 230 kV transmission line to the Juchitán II substation. This 250.5 MW wind power project generates 989,5 GWh of renewable energy every year, the equivalent of providing energy for a population of 500,000 residents with 25% less emissions. EURUS S.A.P.I. will help facilitate Mexico’s transition to a low carbon economy and prevent the emission of 600,000 tons of CO2 every year. The project has also spearheaded a strong social management program with a community investment plan focused in promoting self-employment, education, and community collaboration in La Venta through workshops, training sessions, construction projects, and other initiatives respecting the local customs and cultural heritage.

Climate and Environment award: Cerro Dominador

A concentrated solar power plant, is located in a rural area 60 km from the city of Calama in Chile. It is considered a non-conventional renewable project, and will represent one of the most innovative projects in Latin America due to its capacity to generate electricity 24 hours a day. The project consists of a 250 meters solar tower and 10,600 mirrors, all reflecting to a single point in the tower. It will generate 110MW while removing 643,000 tons of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere per year. The project will promote renewable energies development in Chile as well as the reduction of GHG and other pollutants associated with conventional power generation. Cerro Dominador also plays an important role in the communities’ development and in the socioeconomic revival of the area, as it is considered a catalyst for technological innovation in the region creating multiple direct and indirect jobs.

Infrastructure 360 award: Aquapolo Ambiental

The Aquapolo Ambiental project will promote a more sustainable water management in the ABC Paulista region, where the current water availability is less than 10% of the minimum rate deemed appropriate by the UN (2,500 m³/ person/ year). It will process domestic sewage generated in the ABC basin, resulting in high quality industrial water for use in the Capuava Petrochemical Complex, which is currently the biggest consumer of potable water in the region. As such, it will greatly improve fresh water availability in the area by saving around 2,58 billions of liters of potable water per month – or the equivalent water consumption of more than 500,00 habitants. It will also reduce the amount of pollutants released into the water due to the addition of a tertiary sewage treatment system capable of eliminating 584,000 kg/ year of ammonia and 31,390 kg/ year of phosphorus received on Tietê River. Finally, the project will stimulate growth and development in the area by generating about 800 new jobs during construction and 50 new jobs during operations.

 

The opening of the award ceremony was done by a video of Al Gore

Watch highlights of the Infrastructure 360º Awards ceremony

Official press release by IDB announcing the winners here

Read articles about the awards in the CG-LA Infrastructure website here and in the Mexican press here and here

 

Apr 14 2015 Zofnass Program

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