Peeking through the industrial landscape stands Central Dock Sud S.A. It’s a key player in Argentina’s energy story. Let’s dive into its past and see what makes it tick.
Central Dock Sud was one of Argentina’s first power plants. The German Transatlantic Electricity Company or CATE inaugurated it in 1907. It has powered the nation’s growth ever since. The plant constantly updated its technology over the years. CATE bought land by the Dock Sud port canal in 1906. This 70000 square meter area would become a major power source. It was meant to supply energy to Avellaneda Quilmes Lomas de Zamora and Buenos Aires.
In 1921 the Spanish American Electricity Company known as CHADE took over. CHADE belonged to the Sofina holding company in Brussels. They purchased CATE’s assets including Buenos Aires’ electricity service. This concession was originally granted in 1907 for 50 years. CHADE changed its name to CADE in 1936. The company had been active in Argentina since 1909.
The distribution of electricity became federalized in 1958. SEGBA was created as a mixed company. It was later nationalized in 1961. A fire struck the Dock Sud plant in 1962. This disrupted power to the area including subways trams and trains.
Central Dock Sud was privatized on September 22 1992. The Polledo Group acquired it. In 1993 British Gas bought 45% of the shares. The Polledo Group retained 45%. The remaining 10% was allocated to employees.
A new group took over Central Dock Sud in 1996. This was Endesa-Astra-Bridas later Astra became Repsol-YPF. Bridas became PAE or Pan American Energy.
The new combined cycle plant started operating in 2001. It boasts an installed capacity of 780MW. Also in 2001 the Central Dock Sud tower was reopened. It is considered a historical monument of Dock Sud. Central Dock Sud also achieved quality and environmental certifications. It certified IRAM ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:1996 standards.
In 2003 safety standards were certified. CDS certified OSHAS 18001/IRAM 3800 standards for workplace safety. The plant celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007. The motto was “the triumph of permanence”. In 2008 Central Dock Sud achieved a record of 840.34 MW of gross power.
ENEL acquired Endesa’s shares in 2015. In 2023 a major combined cycle maintenance was performed. This improved efficiency and increased installed capacity. YPF Luz began operating Central Dock Sud in April 2023. It acquired ENEL’s shares.
Initially Central Dock Sud had eight turbo generators. They were powered by gas. Their total power was 211 MW. Three were John Brown turbines and three were Fiat turbines. The remaining two were Alsthom and AEG turbines.
The original steam turbo groups generated power for 60 years. After the 1962 fire these machines stopped working. They were dismantled. Gas turbines were installed starting in 1970. This location was ideal due to its proximity to the load center of Greater Buenos Aires. During the energy crisis of 1989-90 two more gas turbo generators were added.
Central Dock Sud stands as a testament to Argentina’s energy evolution. From its early days to its modern combined cycle it has powered the nation. Its story is one of continuous adaptation and growth.