The region's week in 10 stories

Chilean copper miner Los Pelambres will sell its 40% stake in the 517MW Alto Maipo run-of-the-river hydropower plant to the project's majority owner, AES Gener.

Since its inception, the project – currently under construction near capital Santiago – has generated fierce local opposition due to its expected impact on the environment and tourism.

In a statement, Iván Arriagada, CEO of Los Pelambres' parent company, Antofagasta plc, said that Alto Maipo is "not part of the strategy" of the mineral group. Read more here

Meanwhile Spain's Elecnor was awarded an EPC contract to build the US$117mn, 115MWp Santiago Solar photovoltaic park.

In other regional power sector news this week:

COLOMBIA

An estimated 5.03tn pesos (US$1.71bn) will have to be invested to reach universal electricity coverage in Colombia, according to a mining and energy ministry expansion plan.

Meanwhile Colombian power generator Isagen will work to advance a smaller project after it was denied the environmental license for the 960MW Cañafisto hydroelectric plant.

MEXICO

Gamesa has been awarded two contracts to supply Iberdrola with wind turbines for two projects in Mexico totaling 325.5MW.

ARGENTINA

An energy infrastructure call launched last November by Argentine authorities attracted proposals for thermal power projects totaling 35GW.

BRAZIL

Curitiba-based construction firm Cesbe has been awarded a contract to complete civil works at the 700MW São Manoel hydroelectric plant in Brazil's Amazon basin, according to project stakeholder EDP Energias do Brasil.

BOLIVIA

Bolivia's push to diversify its energy matrix through non-conventional renewable sources received a boost with the first disbursement of funds for two planned solar parks.

REGIONAL

Studies are expected to begin this year to further define the hydroelectric potential of the Madera river basin and principal tributaries shared by Bolivia and Brazil.

And Itaipu Binacional has announced plans to launch a competitive bidding process for a US$500mn revamp of Latin America's largest power generation plant.