CONGLOMERATE OPERATIONS: CERRO PRIETO
CONGLOMERATE OPERATIONS: CERRO PRIETO
Located south of Mexicali, in Baja California, Mexico, the Cerro Prieto geothermal plant stands as a site of global significance. It is the largest geothermal plant in the world in terms of size and the second largest in energy production, with an installed capacity of 820 MW. Situated within an exceptional geological environment, Cerro Prieto embodies a striking paradox: beneath a landscape marked by drought and water scarcity, immense reserves of geothermal energy flow.
The surrounding territory faces a severe water crisis due to the diversion and overexploitation of the Colorado River by the United States, leaving the region in a critical state of hydrological stress. At the same time, this territory holds an abundance of subterranean heat. This tension between scarcity and wealth becomes a lens through which broader questions of energy, territory, and equity can be explored.
This artistic research project aims to create a multidimensional portrait of Cerro Prieto—an energy complex, a geological phenomenon, and a cultural landscape. By articulating the geological, political, and cosmological dimensions that converge at this site, the project positions artistic practice as a space for critical reflection and the construction of alternative imaginaries around energy futures.
In March 2025, fieldwork was conducted on site, including visits to the geothermal plant and surrounding areas, and interviews with key local actors:
Amelia Chan Díaz, leader of the Cucapá community
Xe Juan, artist and creator of the Zopilote sculpture situated in the Cerro Prieto crater
Ronald Spelz, geologist specializing in the Mexicali Valley and the broader Californian region
