Amid the most severe winter in the last 40 years to hit the capital of Tierra del Fuego, with extreme temperatures that dropped well below -10 degrees Celsius and caused extensive power outages that paralyzed basic services in the middle of the tourist season, the provincial administration of Gustavo Melella —now in its seventh year in office— registered a key logistical milestone this Monday, July 27: the arrival at the Commercial Port of Ushuaia of the transoceanic ship loaded with the first heavy components destined for the new thermoelectric power plant.  

The vessel transported a total cargo of 6,200 tons distributed in 1,840 packages comprising modular motor generators, metal structures, power transformers and auxiliary equipment, which were described by the president of Terra Ignis Energía SA , Maximiliano Dalessio , as "a historic event and a foundational milestone".

The logistical deployment and transport routes

The unloading, storage, and land transport operation began this Tuesday and will last approximately ten days. The operational maneuvers are being carried out by Logística Antártica SA in conjunction with Austral Petróleo, Gas y Electricidad SA , in coordination with the Provincial Energy Directorate, the Provincial Road Directorate , and the Municipal Traffic Directorate .

More dollars for the winter emergency

Despite the official deployment for the arrival of the Asian equipment, the immediate operational reality of Ushuaia's electrical system continues under a contingency plan. Simultaneously with the ship's arrival, the provincial government approved, through Decree No. 1278, the awarding of a Direct Purchase for USD 153,014.40 to the company Sullair Argentina SA for the rental of emergency generator equipment.

The legal basis for the decree reiterates the state of "electrical system emergency", originally declared in 2024 and extended during 2025. The rented equipment will be added to Distribution Center No. 2 (located on the Vialidad property) to try to avoid new power collapses, adding to the burning of millions of liters of regular diesel intended to sustain winter demand.

A patchwork scenario that became permanent

The arrival of 6,200 tons of components marks the start of onshore assembly of a power generation park that will require months of civil works and grid connections. However, while the arrival of the supplies by sea is being promoted, the provincial administration continues to resort to extraordinary expenditures in foreign currency and direct purchases to avoid the immediate collapse of the energy grid in the capital of Tierra del Fuego.