Environmental Optimization Plan for Peru's Céfiro 320MW Wind Power Project Approved, with 31.63 km Transmission Line

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 14, Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines approved the modified semi-detailed environmental impact assessment for the Céfiro wind power project, providing an environmental approval basis for the project's optimized engineering design to continue advancing through the permitting process. The project is located in Santiago District, Ica Region, and is developed by Céfiro Energía S.A.C., a subsidiary of Grupo Enhol. It has a planned installed capacity of 320MW and will build 40 wind turbines with a unit capacity of 8MW each, along with the Céfiro booster station and approximately 31.63 km of transmission lines to connect to Peru's National Interconnected System (SEIN). This approval constitutes an environmental assessment modification approval milestone and does not mean the project has officially begun construction.

The main body of the Céfiro wind farm is located in Ica Province and Santiago District, Ica Region, with some supporting facilities crossing the Pan-American South Highway at approximately kilometer 350. In addition to the 40 turbines, the project also includes the internal collection system, the Céfiro substation, and the outgoing transmission works, forming a complete grid-connection chain of "turbines—internal collection—booster station—31.63 km transmission line—SEIN." According to the current plan, the total capacity of 320MW consists of 40 8MW units, reflecting a high degree of unit upsizing.

The project's environmental permit had previously completed its first-stage approval. On October 3, 2025, Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines approved the semi-detailed environmental impact assessment for the "Céfiro Wind Farm and its SEIN connection works" through Resolution No. 0235-2025-MINEM/DGAAE. Subsequently, Céfiro Energía submitted an application to modify the environmental documents for the project design, and in December 2025 obtained approval for the revised public participation plan, paving the way for the subsequent environmental assessment change procedure.

This modification procedure entered formal evaluation in February 2026. Public project records from Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines show that the revised semi-detailed environmental impact assessment has been continuously advancing since February 18, with multiple rounds of registration documents, competent authority letters, and supplementary materials generated during the review process. The developer subsequently completed the rectification of technical and environmental comments raised by the competent authority, and this approval means the modified environmental plan has passed the competent authority's review.

The core purpose of the environmental modification is to optimize the original project design while maintaining the overall development scale of 320MW. The approval covers turbine layout, related power facilities, and their environmental impact management requirements. The developer must implement environmental management measures during construction and operation in accordance with the approved documents. The project's environmental procedure also includes a public participation component, with public hearings previously organized and 38 information communication activities conducted for stakeholders in the project's area of influence.

From the perspective of the project's permitting timeline, Céfiro first began preparing technical documents for the environmental impact assessment in 2021, obtained approval of the technical terms of reference for environmental assessment preparation in February 2022, entered the semi-detailed environmental impact assessment and public participation procedure in 2023, obtained approval of the original environmental assessment in October 2025, and further submitted the modification plan in February 2026. The approval of this environmental optimization plan constitutes another substantive milestone in the project development chain.

Whether the project can subsequently enter main construction also depends on other administrative permits required for power project development, engineering implementation arrangements, and investment decisions. What can currently be confirmed is that the environmental modification plan for the 320MW wind farm, 40 8MW units, Céfiro substation, and 31.63 km outgoing transmission line has passed review, and the project is advancing further from the environmental design optimization stage to subsequent permitting and engineering implementation stages.