Bolivia’s Warnes II wind farm reaches 87% completion as 10-turbine assembly phase begins

The Warnes II wind farm, developed by state utility ENDE Corporación, has officially commenced the assembly of its ten turbines, representing a decisive milestone for the project in Santa Cruz department. The facility has achieved 87% global progress and positions itself as a cornerstone of Bolivia’s energy development strategy. The project advances Bolivia’s commitment to expand renewable energy participation in the national electricity matrix, addressing long-term power generation needs in a country facing significant fossil fuel supply constraints.

The timing of the wind project’s progress coincides with acute energy challenges in Santa Cruz, where Governor Juan Pablo Velasco recently announced emergency measures to address severe diesel shortages. The fuel crisis has intensified following a price increase to 18 bolivianos per liter for large consumers, prompting widespread complaints from producers and transport operators. Velasco committed to flooding Santa Cruz with diesel and gasoline in coming weeks through accelerated supply mechanisms, including a proposed formal alliance between the regional government and private sector to facilitate direct fuel imports.

The diesel shortage reflects broader structural challenges in Bolivia’s hydrocarbon sector. State oil company YPFB recently launched procurement processes to optimize natural gas industrialization operations, including construction and commissioning of an interconnection between liquid separation and LNG plants at the Río Grande complex in Santa Cruz. That facility processes 200 million cubic feet per day of gas and maintains operational demand of 1 MW through three Caterpillar gas units. Separately, YPFB declared a tender for a synthetic diesel plant abandoned due to bidding platform failures.

Bolivia’s energy ministry announced plans exceeding 5.9 billion bolivianos for 2025 to drive energy transition and reduce fossil fuel dependence. The government is also advancing a 160 MW wind project through separate procurement channels. These renewable initiatives contrast with regional developments, including Argentina’s recent expansion of the Mataco-San Jorge wind park in Buenos Aires province, where Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia added six Vestas 6.2 MW turbines to reach 276.6 MW total installed capacity. PCR now operates four wind complexes totaling 582 MW across Argentina.

The Warnes II project’s assembly phase represents tangible progress in Bolivia’s renewable pipeline as fuel supply disruptions underscore the strategic imperative for energy diversification.