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Pillar of energy infrastructure
UTE completed electrical work in Melo that will increase capacity with 500 kV for the eastern and northern areas of the country
09/07/2026
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The state company successfully completed the maneuver carried out this Sunday the 6th in Melo, Cerro Largo, which closes the circuit of the interdepartmental power line extended from Tacuarembó to Melo. With this last stage, the comprehensive Northern Ring transmission project, for 500 kilovolts (kV), ended. The total work represents an investment of 300 million dollars.
The UTE company completed the work for a national investment of 300 million dollars that will improve the service to the north and east of the country, with double power through an extra high voltage line.
The 500 kV lines function as a “highway” for the electrical grid, explained the president of UTE, Andrea Cabrera, in a note with Presidential Communication that announced the energization of the previous section.
As he explained, with the end of this work, the capacity to transmit electrical energy went from 150 kV to 500kV, with a more reliable, permanent and secure supply. Likewise, he appreciated that this advance improves the possibility of carrying out energy exchanges at an international level. In addition, it enables the possibility of more electricity generation.
UTE expands its transmission network
Since the development of the master plan, the entity has been working on strengthening and expanding its transmission network, which forms the basis of the national electricity system.
In this framework, the Northern Ring is the great comprehensive transmission project to strengthen the electrical system in the north and east of the country, stressed the head of Execution and Comptroller of Works at UTE, Andrés Garagorry.
A section of the project that links the Salto Grande hydroelectric dam with the capital of Cerro Largo is the Chamberlain-Melo section, which required the expansion of the respective stations. With the end of these works, on Sunday the 6th the connection of the Tacuarembó-Melo line was enabled, Garagorry indicated.
In order to carry out the connection safely, the supply was interrupted on the 150 kV line, which crosses the work perpendicularly. This action also allowed technicians to carry out other maintenance work in the area in order to avoid future inconvenience.
For this reason, the energy service was momentarily interrupted in the city of Melo and surrounding areas, during the morning of Sunday. However, during the time the maneuver lasted, the continuity of essential services in hospitals, prisons and police stations was guaranteed by generators.
