These projects, as well as Ternium's wind farm in Olavarría, show how the Techint Group is progressing regarding the transformation of heavy industry, as the country focuses on developing its renewables potential, particularly wind power, which currently contributes some 10% of the country's electricity generation.

At the same time, it underscores the synergy between the Techint Group companies, collectively driving the transition to green energy, where Tecpetrol oversaw the management of the project from scratch. Techint Engineering & Construction plays an equally crucial role, applying its engineering capabilities and project execution expertise to the complexities of successful completion with this latest project.

Guillermo Mayayo, Project Manager at Techint E&C, emphasizes the strategic significance of this initiative: "For the Techint Group, this wind farm represents another step forward in the energy transition, allowing us to continue expanding our experience at the local level. This is an excellent opportunity to boost the country's wind energy supply, aligning with global sustainability goals."

La Rinconada is not just a win for Tenaris; it also strengthens Argentina's national electricity grid. The wind farm's 21 turbines will generate electricity at 33 kV, which will be stepped up to 132 kV at the new transformer station before being fed into the national grid via Transba, the regional transmission company. According to Gustavo Flores, Electrical and Instrumental Superintendent at Techint E&C, this integration is essential: "The interconnection to Transba is a key step in ensuring that the energy produced here supports both Tenaris's operations and the broader national network, reducing emissions and enhancing energy security."

Gaskon Bilbao, Construction Coordinator of Techint E&C, highlights the complexities and opportunities involved in managing large-scale projects, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and sustainable development. He discusses the challenges of balancing technical execution with social and environmental responsibility, underscoring the positive impact of these initiatives on local communities.

“From a technical and operational standpoint, one of the most significant challenges we face lies in the proper management of multiple stakeholders—actors with varying degrees of influence and involvement within the project's physical boundaries and beyond. In this regard, we’ve paid special attention to the needs of communities, authorities, and local suppliers, creating collaborative spaces that allow us to reach agreements and achieve objectives that are about the common good. We’re convinced of the positive impact these projects have on communities, driving and promoting the development of local economies, generating skilled jobs, and simultaneously protecting the environment,” he highlighted.

Techint E&C is leading the project's Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Management (EPCM), a shift from its traditional role as a direct constructor. This requires a new approach, as Civil Construction Coordinator Gustavo Quintana explained: "Here, Techint E&C is a project manager rather than a constructor. We oversee the contractors, ensuring they meet our rigorous quality, safety, and efficiency standards. This mindset shift has been one of our biggest challenges."

The project is progressing steadily, with scheduled deliveries to Vestas, responsible for supplying and assembling the wind turbines. As Quintana points out, "the project is running on time, and 12 out of the 21 turbine foundations are complete. We've also delivered 20% of the internal roads connecting the turbines and completed 30% of the electrical connections, so we are on target to meet the September completion deadline."

Techint E&C has adopted SAP Fieldglass to streamline contract management, a platform enhancing transparency and oversight in managing contractors. It was introduced early in the bidding stage to supervise and certify the civil and electrical Balance of Plant (BoP). Patricio Morales, Supply Contracting Specialist, highlights its benefits: "SAP Fieldglass ensures full traceability, consolidating all key contract data in one place and reducing reliance on scattered records and personal memory." The platform tracks contractor performance in real-time, centralizing data reports on labor hours, safety compliance, and overall progress. It generates over 55 key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling the team to quickly identify and address any issues.

However, managing contractors to meet Techint's exacting standards is demanding. According to Quintana, "Our biggest challenge is not just meeting deadlines but ensuring that our contractor adopts our DNA—our standards of safety, quality, and operational excellence." This is where SAP Fieldglass comes into its own, playing a vital role in bridging the differences between Techint and its contractor in critical areas such as safety and quality. Standardizing reporting and performance tracking ensures all parties adhere to Techint's high benchmarks.

Morales states that, "Our contractors are required to enter their performance data into Fieldglass, making progress visible and allowing us to identify red flags early and take corrective action." However, he emphasizes that, "it's not just about the outcome. Fieldglass allows us to actively manage contractor performance throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that potential risks are flagged and addressed early.” The expert adds that “Fieldglass holds contractors to the same high professional standards we set for ourselves."

Another new tool that's recently been deployed for the first time in this project, showcasing the company's appetite for innovation, which is such a hallmark of the Group, is ArcGIS, a geographic information software tool. Deploying drone surveillance to monitor work progress enables the team to view work completion rates accurately and contractor adherence to schedules. "It's the first time we've used ArcGIS for project tracking. By flying drones over the site, we can visually assess progress and ensure contractors stay on schedule. It adds tremendous value in monitoring and reporting," says José Ruiz Olmo, Power Plants Lead Engineer.

"It’s a geographic information system that allows data to be managed, monitored, and analyzed data in a more visual way. It’s fed by information from the EPC Plan, engineering drawings, drone flights, and on-site photos. This enables data to be fully integrated into a single dashboard," explains Delfina Alias, Project Controls Analyst.

As La Rinconada nears completion, it shows how Techint E&C is integrating renewable energy projects into the broader industrial landscape, creating new benchmarks for EPCM and project management in general. By fostering innovation and implementing best practices, the company is reinforcing its commitment to decarbonization and supporting the Techint Group's long-term sustainability objectives.

Tenaris is investing USD 214 million in the La Rinconada project, billed to generate 91.5 megawatts (MW) of wind energy, and scheduled to start operations in the second half of 2025. The electricity generated at La Rinconada will complement output from the Buena Ventura Wind Farm in Gonzales Chaves, which has since 2023 been covering around 50% of TenarisSiderca power needs with renewable electricity. The wind farm, 400 kilometers from its industrial facilities in Campana, will help to reach nearly 90% of TenarisSiderca's electricity (or power) needs, significantly reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.