The Minister of Energy and Environment of Mendoza, Jimena Latorre, held a working meeting with Chile’s Minister of Energy, Ximena Rincón, ahead of the 47th IAEE International Conference. Both officials agreed on the need to strengthen energy integration as a key driver of economic development, energy security, and new investment opportunities on both sides of the Andes.
While in Santiago, Chile, Minister Jimena Latorre met with Chilean Energy Minister Ximena Rincón to advance a shared agenda focused on expanding energy cooperation between the two countries and promoting strategic electricity infrastructure projects that will support long-term regional development.
The bilateral meeting took place ahead of Latorre’s participation in the 47th International Conference of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), one of the world’s leading forums on energy economics, bringing together more than 500 experts, government officials, academics, and business leaders from 70 countries.
During the meeting, both ministers agreed that stronger coordination of energy policies and the development of shared infrastructure are essential to enhancing the reliability of electricity systems, supporting the energy transition, and creating favorable conditions for new productive investments.
“Cooperation with neighboring countries to coordinate energy policies is essential, especially when we share the same mountain range and a common vision for development,” Latorre said.
One of the main topics discussed was the Los Cóndores–Río Diamante International Interconnection, a 500-kV transmission project that will connect Chile’s Maule Region with the Province of Mendoza. The project is designed to transport electricity generated by the Los Cóndores Hydroelectric Plant into Argentina’s interconnected power grid through the Río Diamante Substation in southern Mendoza.
“Modernizing electricity infrastructure is essential to the development strategy of both countries and the region as a whole. We agreed to closely monitor the progress of these projects and maintain direct coordination with all the provinces that will benefit from the increased reliability of this binational electricity system,” Latorre stated.
Latorre also explained that the ministers discussed the importance of extending long-term electricity infrastructure planning beyond national borders by integrating binational projects with future transmission developments planned within Argentina.
She highlighted that the Los Cóndores–Río Diamante Interconnection could eventually be linked to the proposed Río Diamante–Charlone Extra-High Voltage Transmission Line, another strategic project included in Argentina’s National Electricity Transmission Expansion Plan.
The project calls for the construction of an approximately 487-kilometer, 500-kV transmission line connecting the Río Diamante Substation in Mendoza with the future Charlone Substation in northwestern Buenos Aires Province, in addition to more than 400 kilometers of complementary 132-kV transmission lines.
“The most exciting aspect of this initiative is that it could connect directly with the Río Diamante–Charlone transmission line. This would create a true bi-oceanic electricity corridor, beginning in Chile, crossing Mendoza, and integrating into Argentina’s national transmission network, strengthening the infrastructure needed to support economic growth and attract new investment,” Latorre said.
Both ministers agreed that expanding regional energy infrastructure will improve competitiveness, facilitate the integration of new power generation sources, enhance energy security, and strengthen a process of regional integration that will benefit both Argentina and Chile.
Following the bilateral meeting, Minister Latorre will participate as a panelist at the 47th IAEE International Conference, joining the session titled “Infrastructure for Economic Development, Energy Security, and Resilience.”
During her presentation, she will showcase Mendoza’s strategy to accelerate the energy transition through infrastructure development, private investment promotion, institutional stability, and regional integration. She will also present the province as an example of long-term planning aimed at transforming an economy historically linked to oil and gas into an increasingly diversified, resilient, and sustainable energy system.