
Ecuador’s state power corporation Celec has relaunched a tender to guarantee operation of the country’s largest hydroelectric plant, the 1.5 GW Coca Codo Sinclair dam in the Amazon.
Regressive erosion threatens the water catchment infrastructure of the project, and the authorities anticipate protection work will require investments of more than $140 million. The catchment intakes control the flow of water for the plant, and infrastructure also includes grit traps, which allow water to enter the tunnel and powerhouse without coarse sediment.
The $1.81 million, 480-day contract entails conducting feasibility studies and drafting the definitive design to relocate water intake infrastructure on the Quijos River, as part of erosion mitigation plans.
Regressive erosion on the Coca River has not caused problems for the hydroelectric plant, but if it continues and if it completely affects the intake infrastructure, the plant’s water intake would have to be suspended. In the event that the plant is paralyzed, the catchment works would have to be relocated with studies undertaken for this purpose.
Because the powerhouse may not be able to operate at full capacity as needed, initial alternatives envision a machine house that would hold two 35.6 MW units or three 29.85 MW units.
The original call for bids was declared void after the sole participant was disqualified, according to BNamericas. Offers are due by July 12 and a decision is expected by early August, according to procurement information.
This year through June 14, Coca Codo Sinclair accounted for 28% of hydropower production in Ecuador, which represented 88% of total output in the period, information from national grid operator Cenace shows.