Central Piedra Buena is located in the port of Ingeniero White, close to the City of Bahía Blanca, province of Buenos Aires. CPB has 2 turbines of 310 MW each, totaling 620 MW which represents 2.2% of Argentina’s installed capacity. The boilers can be indistinctly fed with natural gas or fuel oil.
The supply of natural gas is made through a 22 km gas pipeline owned by CPB, which CPB also owns, operates and maintains, and which connects to the main gas pipeline system of Transportadora Gas del Sur. Furthermore, CPB has two tanks for the storage of fuel oil with a combined capacity of 60,000 m3. From 1997 to 2010, its average annual generation was 1,929 GWh, with the highest level of generation (3,312 GWh) reached in 2008 and the lowest level (189 GWh) recorded in 2002.
CPB’s revenues are mainly composed of energy and capacity sales. Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010 were AR$1,373 million, corresponding to a net generation of 2,646 GWh, 10.7% higher than in 2009. Such increase is mainly explained by greater demand of operation with liquid fuel due to a decreased use in 2010 of the hydroelectric generation system.
The following chart shows certain relevant statistical data on Central Piedra Buena:
2009
2010
2011
Net Generation (GWh)
2.390
2.646
3.434
Energy Purchases (GWh)
808
755
718
Total Energy Sales (GWh)
3.198
3.401
4.152
Average Price (AR$ / MWh)
255,2
398,5
424,0
Average Gross Profit (AR$ / MWh)
13,8
28,3
29,9
Note: Gross Margin before amortization and depreciation charges.
