Yacimientos Carboníferos Río Turbio

{{Main|Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales}}

File:Viejo muelle, costanera de Río Gallegos, Santa Crruz, Argentina - panoramio.jpg

Carbon mining began in the 1940s in Argentina, ran by the national oil company, YPF.{{Cite journal|last=Nahón|first=Carolina|date=April 2005|title=La privatización de Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales: ¿negocios privados = subsidios y (des) control público?|trans-title=The Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales privatization: private business = subsidies and public (un)control?|url=http://publicacioneseconomia.flacso.org.ar/images/pdf/263.pdf|journal=Realidad Económica|publisher=Instituto Argentino para el Desarrollo Económico (IADE)|location=Buenos Aires|volume=205|issn=2545-708X}}

In August 1958 Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales was created, with the mission of running the country mines. It was a spin-off of the Mineral Carbon division of YPF. The company was launched including extraction facilities, sewage treatment, a railway, a port terminal in Rio Gallegos, and a fleet of three ships.

In the midst of an energy crisis in the country, and with the difficulties for importing coal caused by the world wars, the country favored the development of national coal mines.

The company found trouble selling its production (selling an average of just 76.4% of its production between 195 and 1990), caused by a lack of interest of carbon as a power source. By the 1990s it was highly unprofitable, so YCF was (as many other public companies at that time) privatized.

File:Villa_minera_de_Río_Turbio,_Santa_Cruz,_Argentina.jpg

In 1993, then-president Carlos Menem issued the 988 act, which mandated the privatization of YCF through a concession, for a maximum period of 20 years.{{Cite web|last1=Menem|first1=Carlos Saúl|author-link=Carlos Menem|last2=Cavallo|first2=Domingo|author-link2=Domingo Cavallo|date=7 May 1993|title=DECRETO N° 988/93|url=http://mepriv.mecon.gov.ar/Normas/988-93.htm|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Official bulletin of Argentina|publisher=Argentina Executive|location=Buenos Aires|language=es-AR}}

Prior to granting the company in concession, the State executed a rationalization plan for it, including workforce reduction, liquidation of assets, and the transfer to the Santa Cruz province state of several public services previously offered by YCF.

The privatization would become effective a year later, when a consortium led by the Taselli Group (which came to be a big group at that time, winning the bids for several privatization, that would years later lose) won a public bid for YCF, changing it denomination to YCRT S.A.. This consortium included several companies, such as "Dragados y Obras Portuarias SA" (DyOPSA), Eleprint S.A., IATE S.A., and the union (Argentine Federation of Light and Energy Union Workers ({{langx|es|Federación Argentina de Trabajadores de Luz y Fuerza}}, FATLyF). It also had technical assessment from Skoda, with no equity participation for the Czech company.{{Cite web|last1=Menem|first1=Carlos Saúl|author-link=Carlos Menem|last2=Cavallo|first2=Domingo|author-link2=Domingo Cavallo|date=17 June 1994|title=DECRETO N° 979/1994|url=http://mepriv.mecon.gov.ar/Normas/979-94.htm|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Official bulletin of Argentina|publisher=Argentina Executive|location=Buenos Aires|language=es-AR}}

In the privatization contract, a public subsidy of 22.5 million pesos (equivalent to US$22.5 million at that time) was granted for the first 10 years of private operation. Also, the new private company received a new coal contract with the thermal power station of San Nicolás (by then, run by Agua y Energía Eléctrica, a public energy company, it would be later sold to AES Corporation) that mandated the power station to buy coal from Rio Turbio at a 20% higher mark than the international price.{{Cite web|last=Clarín.com|date=14 July 2002|title=Tocando el viento: la saga de YCF|url=https://www.clarin.com/economia/tocando-viento-saga-ycf_0_SyflcuVlAtx.html|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es|newspaper=Clarín}} This was the only power plant in Argentina relying on coal as fuel, all the other thermal plants used oil and gas.{{Cite journal|last1=Brooks|first1=William E.|last2=Finkelman|first2=Robert B.|last3=Willett|first3=Jason C.|last4=Torres|first4=Ivette E.|date=2006|title=World Coal Quality Inventory: Argentina|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1241/Chapter%202-Argentina.pdf|journal=World Coal Quality Inventory: South America|location=Reston, VA|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}

Still, the Taselli group didn't manage to comply with the minimum production rate, neither with the required investment levels. During the time it managed the company, there were layoffs, YCRT machinery was illegally transferred to other companies of the group, and the subsidies also rerouted to other companies (primarily Parmalat).{{Cite web|date=21 August 2018|title=Cuadernos de las coimas K: el empresario Sergio Taselli quedó detenido por orden del juez Claudio Bonadio|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2018/08/21/cuadernos-de-las-coimas-k-otro-empresario-se-presento-de-manera-espontanea-ante-el-juez-claudio-bonadio/|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Infobae|language=es-AR}}{{Cite web|date=29 November 2011|title=Procesaron al empresario Taselli por defraudación en la mina de Río Turbio|url=https://www.clarin.com/economia/Procesaron-Taselli-defraudacion-Rio-Turbio_0_HyENRMqnP7e.html|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Clarín|language=es-AR}}

In August 2001, the government stopped the subsidy and the San Nicolás power plant halted its coal purchases. In January 2002, the Taselli group abandoned the company, which in May declared insolvency procedures. For this actions, Sergio Taselli, the businessman behind the Taselli group went to trial, under the alleged crime of fraudulent administration with the aggravating circumstance of being committed to the detriment of the State or public administration.

File:Interior rio turbio.jpg

In 2002, then-interim president Eduardo Duhalde decided to intervene the company with the 1034/2002 act, becoming the first privatized company back to public administration. Despite receiving an abandoned company, lacking a public company legal entity or even statutes that defined the operation and structure of the company, it was decided that the company would still operate, and Eduardo Arnold was named by the state as comptroller.{{Cite web|last=Hirsch|first=Gustavo|date=25 May 2003|title=KIRCHNER ABRE JUEGO A OPOSITORES EN SEGUNDA LÍNEA DE GABINETE|url=https://www.ambito.com/portada-principal/kirchner-abre-juego-opositores-segunda-linea-gabinete-n3224308|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Ámbito Financiero|language=es-AR}} This decision to keeping open the run-down company was taken because it is the main economic activity of the Rio Turbio area.

In 2004, there was a fire followed by a collapse in the mine. 14 miners died. The incident happened during a shift change, and started in a conveyor belt. High levels of Carbon monoxide were registered, fueled by a big number of plastics and rubber objects burning.{{Cite news|last=Arias|first=Mariela|date=16 June 2004|title=Río Turbio: murieron 4 mineros y hay 10 atrapados|trans-title=Conmotion in Santa Cruz: 4 miners died and 10 are still trapped|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/rio-turbio-murieron-4-mineros-y-hay-10-atrapados-nid610734/|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es|location=Buenos Aires|newspaper=La Nación}}{{Cite web|date=16 June 2004|title=Una trampa mortal en el socavón|trans-title=A deadly trap in the sinkhole|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3-36775-2004-06-16.html|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es|newspaper=Página 12}} ATE, a public workers union in Argentina, described the fire as "a latent danger we have been reporting for years" and questioned "the lack of alarm systems and sensors for the conveyer belt, which never worked at the moment of the fire", blaming the accident on the lack of investment and control from the central government.{{Cite web|last=Carbajal|first=Mariana|date=17 June 2004|title=Llega la hora de investigar la tragedia|trans-title=The time to investigate the tragedy comes|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3-36822-2004-06-17.html|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es-AR|location=Buenos Aires|newspaper=Página 12}}{{Cite book|url=http://www.losverdes.org.ar/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/informe_base_carbon_rio_turbio.pdf|title=Carbón: combustible para el cambio climático|publisher=Greenpeace|language=es-AR|trans-title=Coal: fuel for climate change}}

The "Work Risks Superintendence" (Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo) reported that the Río Turbio mine showed an accident rate that doubled the mining sector average. According to the criminal investigation, the worker responsible for the safety where the fire started had been laid off before the incident.

After the incident, then-controller Esteban Loncaric resigned and the government designated Daniel Peralta (who would later become governor of the province) in his place.{{Cite web|last1=Kirchner|first1=Néstor|author-link=Néstor Kirchner|last2=de Vido|first2=Julio|author-link2=Julio de Vido|date=28 June 2004|title=Decreto 810/2004|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina|publisher=Argentina Executive|language=es}}

File:Río_Turbio-CTJ-IMG_7602.jpg

In December 2004, the Ministry of Federal Planning (headed by Julio de Vido) announced the construction of a 35 MW thermal power station, a 40 million dollars investment. It would be built by Skoda.{{Cite news|date=14 December 2004|title=Inversión en Río Turbio|work=Ámbito Financiero|url=https://www.ambito.com/economia/inversion-rio-turbio-n3302025}}

In 2006, Julio de Vido announced the construction of a 240 MW thermal power station in Rio Turbio, aimed not only for energy generation, but also for demand creation for the mine's coal. It was then announced that the works would last three and a half-years (finishing in 2011), 1400 jobs would be created, and the energy would be turned over to the national interconnection for its use in the whole country.{{Cite web|date=14 December 2007|title=Construirán una central termoeléctrica en Río Turbio|trans-title=A thermal power plant will be built in Rio Turbio|url=https://www.casarosada.gob.ar/informacion/archivo/16487|website=Casa Rosada|publisher=Argentina Executive|language=es-AR}}{{Cite web|date=6 December 2006|title=Construirán una central termoeléctrica en Río Turbio|trans-title=Event at Casa Rosada: A thermal power station will be built in Rio Turbio|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/construiran-una-central-termoelectrica-en-rio-turbio-nid865316/|access-date=7 August 2020|website=La Nación|language=es|location=Buenos Aires}}{{Cite web|date=6 December 2006|title=Construirán una central termoeléctrica en Río Turbio|trans-title=A thermal power station will be built in Rio Turbio|url=https://www.ambito.com/economia/construiran-una-central-termoelectrica-rio-turbio-n3408767|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Ámbito Financiero|language=es-AR|location=Buenos Aires}}

This new power plant would demand 1.2 million tonnes of coal a year, which would be a powerful incentive for increasing the mine production. It would also be able to process the coal without having to purify it.{{Cite journal|last=Castro|first=Liliana|title=Los depósitos de carbón de Argentina y Chile: Importancia en la matriz energética y alternativas de uso|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299537244|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es-AR|journal=Geotemas}} During the construction, several changes to the works were approved, which caused several delays. It would be built by Isolux Corsan, after outbiding a consortium formed by Roggio Group and Skoda in a public tender. The winning company and its management is under investigation by the Spanish Justice for bribery in the Rio Turbio case.{{Cite news|date=10 June 2020|title=La Fiscalía se querella contra Isolux y su cúpula supuestos pagos en Argentina|language=es-ES|trans-title=Anti-Corruption prosecutor office presents a claim against Isolux and its management for the alleged payment of bribes in Argentina|work=La Vanguardia|location=Spain|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20200610/481705517400/isolux-corsan-argentina-corrupcion-comisiones.html|access-date=7 August 2020}}

In September 2015, the ignition process for the first module of the power plant began, using fuel oil. This process was estimated to last 12 months, but was interrupted two months later, in November 2015.

Also in September 2015, then-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner carried out a symbolic start-up of a turbine at the plant for its inauguration.{{Cite news|date=4 September 2015|title=Cristina: "Río Turbio es más energía para los argentinos|language=es-AR|trans-title=Cristina: "Rio Turbio means more energy for argentinians"|work=Télam|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201509/118720-cristina-central-termoelectrica-rio-turbio.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017192153/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201509/118720-cristina-central-termoelectrica-rio-turbio.html|archivedate=2019-10-17}}{{Cite news|last=Cabot|first=Diego|date=30 January 2020|title=Río Turbio, un reducto de negocios oscuros con un presupuesto millonario|language=es-AR|trans-title=Río Turbio, a stronghold of dark businesses with a millionaire budget|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/rio-turbio-reducto-negocios-oscuros-presupuesto-millonario-nid2329130|access-date=7 August 2020}} The second turbine was still under construction, therefore the power plant was still not finished, producing only 23 of the 240 MW it was designed for.{{Cite news|last=Cué|first=Carlos|date=15 October 2015|title=Río Turbio, la joya de un Gobierno argentino que no repara en gastos|language=es-AR|work=El País|location=Madrid|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2015/10/15/argentina/1444905301_447785.html}}{{Cite news|date=3 September 2015|title=Nuevo acto político de la presidenta en Río Turbio y la mentira de una usina que deben mostrar "en marcha|language=es-AR|work=OPI Santa Cruz|url=https://opisantacruz.com.ar/2015/09/03/nuevo-acto-politico-de-la-presidenta-en-rio-turbio-y-la-mentira-de-una-usina-que-deben-mostrar-en-marcha/|access-date=7 August 2020}}{{Cite news|date=4 September 2015|title=Cristina desmintió una nota de Clarín y aclaró datos sobre la Central Termoeléctrica de Río Turbio|language=es-AR|work=Télam|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201509/118849-cristina-desmintio-una-nota-de-clarin-y-aclaro-datos-sobre-la-central-termoelectrica-de-rio-turbio.php|access-date=7 August 2020}} The total investment in the power plant accumulated US$700 million as 2015.{{Cite web|title=Cristina inauguró la central termoeléctrica de Río Turbio|url=https://www.elpatagonico.com/cristina-inauguro-la-central-termoelectrica-rio-turbio-n1288749|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es-AR|newspaper=El Patagónico}}{{Cite web|date=25 July 2015|title=Río Turbio calienta calderas|trans-title=Río Turbio warms up boilers|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-277762-2015-07-24.html|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es-AR|location=Buenos Aires|newspaper=Página 12}}{{Cite news|last1=Cabot|first1=Diego|last2=Arias|first2=Mariela|date=8 February 2016|title=Río Turbio, otro ícono kirchnerista paralizado por la corrupción|language=es-AR|trans-title=Río Turbio, another kirchnerist icon halted by corruption|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/rio-turbio-otro-icono-kirchnerista-paralizado-por-la-corrupcion-nid1869188|access-date=7 August 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Cappiello|first=Hernán|date=10 June 2020|title=Acusan en España a exdirectivos de Isolux de pagar coimas en la Argentina|language=es-AR|trans-title=Isolux former managers accused in Spain of bribery in Argentina|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/acusan-espana-ex-directivos-isolux-pagar-coimas-nid2377207|access-date=7 August 2020}}

YCRT S.A. is, since 2002, in a precarious legal status, being intervened (administrated) by the government while still being a sociedad anónima. The company does not have the legal entity type of a state-owned enterprise, neither an organic law that establishes its internal structure, what would bring certainty and transparence to the operation. This kind of state-intervention in Argentina is, by nature, only temporary, with the mission to regularizing an anomalous situation within a company.{{Cite web|title=Ley 19.550|trans-title=19550 Act|url=http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/25000-29999/25553/texact.htm|access-date=7 August 2020|website=servicios.infoleg.gob.ar|language=es-AR}}

With this concern, in November 2015, months before a new government took office, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to create a new state-owned company, called Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales Sociedad del Estado (YCFSE), that would control the mine, the rail and port, and the Río Turbio Power Plant.{{Cite web|title=Debaten proyecto para crear la empresa estatal Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales|url=http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201511/128030-ycf-diputados.html|archivedate=2019-10-17|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20191017192239/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201511/128030-ycf-diputados.html|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Télam|language=es-AR}}

The billed was blocked in the Argentine Senate due to not accomplishing quorum.{{Cite web|title=yacimientos carboníferos fiscales – NCN|date=9 December 2015 |url=https://www.ncn.com.ar/tag/yacimientos-carboniferos-fiscales/|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es}} A new was tried in 2016, but was also unsuccessful.{{Cite web|title=Avanza en el Senado el proyecto para reeditar Yacimientos Carboníferos Fiscales – Parlamentario|url=https://www.parlamentario.com/2016/05/04/avanza-en-el-senado-el-proyecto-para-reeditar-yacimientos-carboniferos-fiscales/|access-date=7 August 2020|language=es-AR}}

File:Río_Turbio-CTJ-IMG_7603.jpg

In December 2015, the Mauricio Macri government took office, with a strong promise to eradicate corruption. In February 2016, it ordered an Audit on the Río Turbio thermal power plant to be made by the Sindicatura General de la Nación, halting works in the middletime.{{Cite news|last=Krakowiak|first=Fernando|date=6 March 2018|title=Río Turbio sin avances {{!}} Ponen fin al contrato con Isolux Corsá|language=es-AR|work=Página 12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/99644-rio-turbio-sin-avances}}{{Cite news|last=Arias|first=Mariela|date=2 February 2016|title=YCRT: prometen realizar una auditoría a fondo de la empresa|language=es-AR|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/ycrt-prometen-realizar-una-auditoria-a-fondo-de-la-empresa-nid1867514}} This also happened to other public works on that year, under presumptions of generalized corruption during the Kirchner administration.{{Cite news|last=Ruiz|first=Iván|date=26 January 2016|title=Revisan las licitaciones de obra pública para destrabar los fondos|language=es-AR|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/revisan-las-licitaciones-de-obra-publica-para-destrabar-los-fondos-nid1865326}}

By then, the power plant had a completed turbine, and a second turbine with "a between 17 and 25% of remaining works to completion" as stated by the Rio Turbio city Intendant, who would later be detained for alleged corruption in the power plant works.{{Cite web|title=Página/12 :: Economía :: Obras paralizadas en Río Turbio|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-292214-2016-02-11.html|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Página 12|language=es}}

The audit led to 13 criminal cases for corruption.{{Cite web|date=5 July 2017|title=Suman trece las causas por el manejo del Yacimiento de Río Turbio|url=http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201707/194422-yacimientos-carboniferos-rio-turbio--trece-denuncias-supuesto-manejo-fraudulento-auditoria-general-gobierno-nacional.html|archivedate=2017-08-10|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170810004752/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201707/194422-yacimientos-carboniferos-rio-turbio--trece-denuncias-supuesto-manejo-fraudulento-auditoria-general-gobierno-nacional.html|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Télam}}{{Cite web|date=24 November 2016|title=Río Turbio: Todas las causas penales – Mining Press|url=http://miningpress.com/nota/303414/rio-turbio-todas-las-causas-penales|access-date=7 August 2020|website=miningpress.com|language=es}}{{Cite news|last=Salinas|first=Lucía|date=29 October 2016|title=Río Turbio: dura auditoría de la Sigen sobre una obra de $ 26.000 millones|language=es-AR|work=Clarín|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/rio-turbio-auditoria-sigen-millones_0_HJaKMYfex.html}} This audit was criticized by unions, who claimed it had halted the mine activity for too long.{{Cite news|date=12 October 2016|title=Gremios de la cuenca se reunieron con legisladores|language=es-AR|work=Tiempo Sur|location=Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz|url=https://www.tiemposur.com.ar/nota/118351-gremios-de-la-cuenca-se-reunieron-con-legisladores}}

By 2016, 470 miners had dismissal telegrams sent to, of which 270 accepted voluntary retirement agreements. It was calculated that by this year, 2500 people had left town in the mine influence area.{{Cite news|last=Salinas|first=Lucía|date=28 November 2016|title=Río Turbio: La ilusión patagónica que se convirtió en pueblo fantasma|language=es-AR|trans-title=Río Turbio: The patagonian illusion that turned into a ghost town|work=Clarín|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/rio-turbio-auditoria-sigen-millones_0_HJaKMYfex.html}}

In July 2017, some miners claimed that the company was a possible company lockout taking place.{{Cite web|title=Trabajador advirtió que YCRT está en etapa de vaciamiento|url=https://www.tiemposur.com.ar/nota/135906-trabajador-advirtio-que-ycrt-esta-en-etapa-de-vaciamiento|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Tiempo Sur|language=es-AR}}

In October 2017, former minister Julio de Vido was detained (after a desafuero process to remove his Deputy immunity privileges) charged with fraudulent administration of Rio Turbio for the amount of 265 million pesos. Roberto Baratta, a union president, was also jailed on these charges.{{Cite news|last=Devanna|first=Cecilia|date=9 July 2017|title=Cómo funcionaba el desvío de fondos de De Vido y Baratta en Yacimiento Río Turbio|language=es-AR|trans-title=How the De Vido and Baratta embezzlement worked in Yacimiento Río Turbio|work=Perfil|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/como-funcionaba-el-desvio-de-fondos-de-de-vido-y-baratta-en-yacimiento-rio-turbio.phtml}}{{Cite news|date=3 October 2017|title=El fiscal Moldes pidió el desafuero y detención de De Vido por supuesto fraude en Río Turbio|language=es-AR|trans-title=Prosecutor Moldes ask for the desafuero and detain of De Vido on charges of alleged fraud in Río Turbio|work=Télam|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201710/209505-de-vido-detencion-desafuero-moldes-rio-turbio.html|archivedate=2019-04-15|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20190415125533/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201710/209505-de-vido-detencion-desafuero-moldes-rio-turbio.html|access-date=7 August 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Cappiello|first=Hernán|date=26 October 2017|title=De Vido quedó detenido por fraude tras ser separado como diputado|language=es-AR|trans-title=De Vido detained on fraud charges after being separated Deputies chamber|work=La Nación|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/de-vido-quedo-detenido-por-fraude-tras-ser-separado-como-diputado-nid2076350|access-date=7 August 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Kollmann|first=Raúl|date=26 October 2017|title=Una puesta en escena para festejar el triunfo electoral|language=es-AR|trans-title=A staging to celebrate the electoral triumph|work=Página 12|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/71737-una-puesta-en-escena-para-festejar-el-triunfo-electoral|access-date=7 August 2020}}

In March 2018, the construction contract with Isolux for the power plant was cancelled, due to company-side breach of contract. This was based on several breaches, including delays, lack of preservation of the structure integrity, losing manufacturer guarantee in several components caused by delays, among others.{{Cite web|date=5 March 2018|title=144/2018 Resolution – Ministry of Energy|url=https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/179656|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Official Gazette of Argentina (Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina)}}{{Cite news|date=6 March 2018|title=El Gobierno le sacó la central térmica de Río Turbio a Isolux|language=es-AR|trans-title=Río Turbio: Government takes off thermal power plant contract from Isolux|work=El Cronista|url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/El-Gobierno-le-saco-la-central-termica-de-Rio-Turbio-a-Isolux-20180306-0020.html|access-date=7 August 2020}} The construction company was on insolvency claims at that time, having abandoned other public works in the country, as Paseo del Bajo for instance. No other company took on the power plant construction since then.{{Cite news|last=Cabot|first=Diego|date=5 March 2018|title=Río Turbio: el Gobierno rescindió el contrato para terminar la usina a carbón que ya costó US$1607 millones|language=es-AR|trans-title=Río Turbio: Government cancels thermal power plant contract which has already costed 1607 million US Dollars|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/rio-turbio-el-gobierno-rescindio-el-contrato-de-isolux-para-terminar-la-usina-a-carbon-nid2114232|access-date=7 August 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Isolux Corsán solicita el concurso de acreedores|url=http://www.isoluxcorsan.com/es/isolux-corsan-solicita-el-concurso-de-acreedores.html?texto=&idCategoria=0&fechaDesde=&fechaHasta=|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Isolux Corsán|language=es}} By this moment, 1607 million dollars had been spent on the construction of the power plant.

Juan Carlos Lascurain, former president of the Argentine Industrial Union was jailed in March 2018 for alleged irregularities in the YCRT renovation projects.{{Cite news|date=7 March 2018|title=Cárcel a un empresario, despido a 470 mineros|language=es-AR|trans-title=Jail for one businessman, layoffs for 470 miners|work=Página 12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/99888-carcel-a-un-empresario-despido-a-470-mineros}}

In the first months of 2019, the port of Punta Loyola began operating again.{{Cite web|title=El muelle de YCRT en Punta Loyola vuelve a estar operativo|url=https://www.tiemposur.com.ar/nota/164922-el-muelle-de-ycrt-en-punta-loyola-vuelve-a-estar-operativo-|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Tiempo Sur|language=es-AR}} YCRT made its first export in six years from this facility, a 25 thousand tons of coal shipment sent to Brazil.{{Cite web|date=1 March 2019|title=Río Turbio vuelve a exportar carbón luego de 6 años|url=https://www.clarin.com/economia/rio-turbio-vuelve-exportar-carbon-luego-anos_0_WuxEC0hK-.html|access-date=7 August 2020|website=Clarín|language=es-AR}} Contracts to provide coal to Lime kilns in San Juan and Mendoza were signed. The mine went back to producing coal regularly for the first time in ten years, producing 30 thousand tonnes a month.{{Cite news|date=22 April 2019|title=La mina de Río Turbio volvió a producir y proyectan alcanzar a niveles históricos|language=es-AR|trans-title=The Rio Turbio mine is producing again and historical levels of production are projected|work=Clarín|url=https://www.clarin.com/economia/mina-rio-turbio-volvio-producir-proyectan-alcanzar-niveles-historicos_0_H4n-bfILZ.html|access-date=7 August 2020}}

By the end of the Omar Zeidán administration as a state-appointed comptroller, 79 workers had been laid off and 500 took voluntary retirements.{{Cite web|last=Arias|first=Mariela|date=20 February 2020|title=Aníbal Fernández despidió a 417 empleados de Yacimiento Carbonífero Río Turbio|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/anibal-fernandez-ordeno-417-despidos-yacimiento-carbonifero-nid2335665|access-date=7 August 2020|website=La Nación|language=es-ar}} At this time, the company had an operational income of 43 million pesos against a 2338 million operational expenditure.

In 2020, while the new Alberto Fernández government took office, Aníbal Fernández was appointed as comptroller (interventor) for YCRT.{{Cite news|date=12 February 2020|title=Aníbal Fernández llegó a Río Turbio|language=es-AR|trans-title=Aníbal Fernández arrives into Rio Turbio|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/anibal-fernandez-llego-a-rio-turbio-nid2332948|access-date=7 August 2020}} 20 days after that, 417 workers appointed by the previous administration were laid off. In words of Anibal Fernandez, those were not layoffs but reversals of wrong hires. The laid off workers had no support from the unions.{{Cite news|last=Arias|first=Mariela|date=20 February 2020|title=Aníbal Fernández despidió a 417 empleados de Yacimiento Carbonífero Río Turbio|language=es-AR|trans-title=Aníbal Fernández fired 417 employees in Yacimiento Carbonífero Río Turbio|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/anibal-fernandez-ordeno-417-despidos-yacimiento-carbonifero-nid2335665|access-date=7 August 2020}}{{Cite news|date=21 February 2020|title=Aníbal Fernández revocó en Río Turbio 417 designaciones hechas justo antes del cambio de gobierno|language=es-AR|trans-title=Aníbal Fernández reversed 417 employees appointed just before the administration change in Yacimiento Carbonífero Río Turbio|work=Página 12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/248651-anibal-fernandez-revoco-en-rio-turbio-417-designaciones-hech|access-date=7 August 2020}}

The new government indicated its will to finish construction of the power plant and making the company more productive. They marked as issues the six-hours shifts and many holidays, elements mandated by unions on which the mine operates.{{Cite news|last=Serrichio|first=Sergio|date=2 February 2020|title=El Gobierno busca poner en marcha una vieja promesa: terminar la usina de Río Turbio y hacer del yacimiento de carbón una empresa productiva|language=es-AR|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/economia/2020/02/02/el-gobierno-busca-poner-en-marcha-una-vieja-promesa-terminar-la-usina-de-rio-turbio-y-hacer-del-yacimiento-de-carbon-una-empresa-productiva/|access-date=7 August 2020}} In June 2020, a spill of over 2,000 and 3,000 litres of oil over the Primavera river was caused by the freezing and breakage of pipes in the internal power station of the mine. This incident was reported to the Santa Cruz environment agency by the "Luz y Fuerza" union.{{Cite web|title=Luz y Fuerza denuncia "desidia y desconocimiento" ante derrame de aceite en la Usina 21 de Río Turbio|url=http://luzyfuerzapatagonia.com/noticias/luz-y-fuerza-denuncia-desidia-y-desconocimiento-ante-derrame-de-aceite-en-la-usina-21-de-rio-turbio/|access-date=8 August 2020|website=Sindicato Regional de Luz y Fuerza de la Patagonia|date=28 July 2020 |language=es}}{{Cite web|date=2 July 2020|title=YCRT envía carbón sin depurar a las localidades y ahora se congeló el sistema de la Usina de 21Mw y produjo un derrame de aceite|url=https://opisantacruz.com.ar/2020/07/29/ycrt-envia-carbon-sin-depurar-a-las-localidades-y-ahora-se-congelo-el-sistema-de-la-usina-de-21mw-y-produjo-un-derrame-de-aceite/|access-date=8 August 2020|website=OPI Santa Cruz|language=es-AR}}

{{main|Rio Turbio Railway}}

File:Ferro_Rio_Turbio.JPG

The mine has its own industrial rail line for coal transport to the Punta Loyola port, a {{convert|285|km|mi}} long route. It is the southernmost narrow gauge (750 mm) railway still in operation in the world.{{Cite journal|last1=Morales|first1=Víctor Hugo|last2=González|first2=Pablo Esteban|last3=Mercado|first3=María Angélica|date=2018|title=Ramal Ferro Industrial Rio Turbio (RFIRT) de la explotación de carbón en Santa Cruz, Patagonia Argentina|url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=6773951|format=PDF|journal=International Journal of Scientific Management and Tourism|language=es-AR|edition=3|volume=4|pages=177–194|issn=2386-8570}}

It was inaugurated in 1951, both for passengers and cargo use and, after almost being closed in the 1990s, it is now operated only for cargo transport.

In the last years, refurbished locomotives and switchers of soviet and Romanian origin were purchased, as well as freight cars built by EMEPA.{{Cite journal|date=February 2010|title=Punta Loyola: Arribó nuevo material rodante adquirido en Bulgaria|trans-title=Punta Loyola: New rolling stock purchased in Bulgaria arrived|url=https://www.ycrt.gob.ar/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/revistas/revista_n14.pdf|journal=Revista Empresarial YCRT|language=es-AR|issue=14}}

The Rio Turbio coal deposit is considered an extension of the Loreto Formation in the Magallanes Basin.{{Cite book|last=Perczyk|first=Daniel|url=https://www.globalmethane.org/documents/events_coal_20060525_argentina.pdf|title=Coal Industry Situation in Argentina|publisher=Instituto Torcuato Di Tella|year=2006}} The Rio Turbio Formation age is discussed but it is believed that it was formed in the Eocene.{{Cite report |author=Furque, Guillermo |url=http://biblioteca.cfi.org.ar/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/1993/01/37161.pdf|title=Geologia de la cuenca superior del Rio Turbio, Provincia de Santa Cruz|date=1993|publisher=Consejo Federal de Inversiones|author2=Marcelo F. Caballé |isbn=950-9899-73-9|location=Buenos Aires|language=es-AR|trans-title=Geology of the upper superior Rio Turbio basin, Santa Cruz province|oclc=57524970}}{{Cite journal|last=Archangelsky|first=Sergio|date=January 1969|title=Estudio del paleomicroplancton de la Formación Río Turbio (Eoceno), Provincia de Santa Cruz.|trans-title=Paleomicroplancton study of the Rio Turbio Formation (Eocene), Santa Cruz Province|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285664620|journal=Ameghiniana|language=es-AR|publisher=Argentinian Paleontology Association|volume=6|issue=3|pages=181–218|via=ResearchGate}} It has an estimated 750,000,000 tones reserves.

The mine produces Sub-bituminous coal. It has five coal-bearing units (mantos), divided in two carbonaceous complexes: Manto inferior (lowermost) and Manto Superior (forming the lowermost complex), and the uppermost complex formed by the Manto B, Manto A and the Manto Dorotea (uppermost). This last one is the only unit being mined at present.{{Cite journal|last1=Brooks|first1=William E.|last2=Willett|first2=Jason C.|date=2004|title=Update: World Coal Quality Inventory – Argentina|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1022/1022.html|journal=U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1022|location=Reston, VA|publisher=United States Geological Survey}} The Dorotea unit is believed to have 26,466,682 tones of exploitable reserves.

The mine has the following characteristics:

File:Locomotora_de_YCRT.JPG

The mine uses the long walls mining method with controlled explosions.

The operation has two stages: the first one, in the interior of the mine, where galleries are prepared and the coal is extracted; and a second one, outside the mine, where the coal is washed and purified. Residue accounts for about 50% of the extracted mineral, which needs to be washed in order to be used as fuel.{{Cite book|url=https://www.agn.gob.ar/sites/default/files/informes/2008_099info.pdf|title=Res N°: 99/2008: Yacimiento Carbonífero de Rio Turbio {{!}} Período auditado: Junio de 2002 a Julio de 2007|date=3 July 2008|publisher=Auditoría General de la Nación|location=Buenos Aires|language=es-AR|trans-title=Resolution # 99/2008: Yacimiento Carbonífero de Rio Turbio {{!}} Audited period: June 2002 to July 2007}}

During the washing, residues as clay and sandstone are eliminated. Then, the washed coal is milled and treated with a dense solution with suspended magnetite. This way, residual clay can be separated from the fine coal through decantation.

Residues from the washing (which are called "sterile") are sent to the treatment plant of the mine, where they precipitate and separate from water through a leveled drain. Effluent water from the treatment plant is discharged into the San José creek, and solid residue is sent via conveyor belt to a "sterile pile" where it is accumulated.

The sterile pile has been accumulating residues for over 30 years, presenting a serious environmental hazard due to its close location to the San José creek.{{Cite journal|last1=Abiuso|first1=Norberto Luís|last2=Morales|first2=Víctor Hugo|date=2009|title=Gestión de residuos en un emprendimiento minero carbonífero caso de estudio: Yacimientos Carboníferos Río Turbio (YCRT) Río Turbio, provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina|trans-title=Waste management in a carbon mine enterprise. Case study: Yacimientos Carboníferos Río Turbio (YCRT) Río Turbio, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina|url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/5123557.pdf|journal=Informes Científicos Técnicos|language=es|volume=1|issue=2|pages=1–23|doi=10.22305/ict-unpa.v1i2.17|issn=1852-4516|doi-access=free}}

The coal is then transported via rail to Punta Loyola, a {{convert|285|km|mi}} long route that takes 8 hours, and then sent via ship to Buenos Aires. Some of the coal is also used in the Santa Cruz province for heating.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

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Category:Presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Category:Government-owned companies of Argentina