Enel Generación El Chocón S.A., formerly Hidroeléctrica El Chocón S.A. (H.E.C.S.A.), is a company engaged in the generation of power from the falls of El Chocón and Arroyito over the Limay river. It has an annual average generating capacity of 3,600GWh, i.e. 5% of the total generation of the Argentine Interconnection System (SADI, Spanish acronym).
Located in the Argentine Patagonia, in the provinces of Rio Negro and Neuquen, the El Chocón Dam has been built on the Limay river, 80km upstream of its confluence with the Neuquen river. Its large technical capacity, as well as the fantastic surrounding landscape, makes this hydroelectric power plant an area of great potential.
The organisation of the company originates from the division of the state-owned company Hidroeléctrica Norpatagónica S.A. created in the late 1960s to build and exploit the Complex El Chocón - Cerros Colorados. The Company was granted under a 30-year concession commencing August 11, 1993 to the controlling company Hidroinvest S.A.- with a 59 % of controlling interest.
The Hydroelectric Complex, with a total existing capacity of 1,328MW includes the power stations of El Chocón, with an existing capacity of 1,200MW (six generators with a 200MW capacity each) and Arroyito with an existing capacity of 128MW (three generators of 42.6MW capacity each).
