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Salto Grande

The Salto Grande Hydroelectric Complex was built in a region characterized by rapids and rocky terrain, located in the middle course of the Uruguay River, using a natural fall called Salto Grande to generate hydroelectric power. It is located upstream from the cities of Concordia (Argentina) and Salto (Uruguay).

The plant, the first binational hydroelectric project developed between two countries in the region, provides an average of 8500 GWh of energy per year and provides secondary frequency control for the interconnected electric system more than 50% of the time. The project began operations in 1979 and has since provided the equivalent of more than one million homes with electricity each year. The binational board shares and manages all aspects of the plant, including hydrology, operations, maintenance, costs and personnel, operating as a single entity and providing half of the power to each country.

The dam consists of a main concrete dam and two earth dams, which makes it a mixed dam. Is also equipped with two fish ladders with automatic locks. The power plant consists of two powerhouses with a total of 14 Kaplan units with an installed capacity of 1890 MW, 8400 m3/s. The spillway, equipped with 19 Tainter gates, has a capacity of 58,000 m3/s. The crest of the dam serves as an international railroad and highway bridge connecting the cities of Salto and Concordia between Uruguay and Argentina.

Because the plant's reliability is critical to the region's growth and development, the governments of both countries are working together to make and implement plans to rehabilitate the plant and ensure its safe operation.

The rehabilitation plan was divided into two main parts: the rehabilitation and modernization of the auxiliary equipment, including the main transformers and substation equipment, and the rehabilitation and rehabilitation of the main generation equipment, including the turbine and generators.

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