The governments of Ecuador and the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding to articulate technical cooperation to mitigate the effects of regressive erosion on the Coca River and protect the water catchment works of the 1,500-MW Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant.
The document was signed by the general manager of CELEC EP, Ing. Gonzalo Uquillas Vallejo, and the representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Adriel McConnell. As honorary witnesses, the Vice Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy (deputy) Patricio Villavicencio and the U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, Michael J. Fitzpatrick, also signed.
Villavicencio commented that protecting the catchment works of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant is a priority for the National Government and no effort has been spared to carry out all the technical tasks exhaustively in the Coca River area. This project covers the demand of 30% of electrical energy for Ecuadorians.
“The work carried out by experts from both CELEC EP and the United States Army Corps of Engineers have consolidated the fruitful relationship that exists between both nations through the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding that will strengthen technical and scientific aspects, to face erosion in the Coca River, which is a unique phenomenon in the world, and protect the electrical infrastructure located in the area,” he commented.
According to the document, the international cooperation will come in the form of technical assistance to develop studies, designs and execution of works, under the technical support of experts in the field, as well as to implement joint actions to face the process of regressive erosion. The MOU aims to “cooperate in the development of joint activities in the fields of engineering services; environmental sustainability; operation, construction and maintenance of river infrastructure; damage reduction; risk analysis; protection and restoration of the environment along rivers.”
In addition, activities will be developed that promote the collaborative and mutual exchange of experience and scientific knowledge on the following topics: river engineering technologies, sedimentation and dredging, river erosion and slope stability, and physical modeling and experimentation.
In this regard, Uquillas recalled that the problem of regressive erosion and progressive sedimentation on the scale in which it has been occurring in the Coca River, after the collapse of the San Rafael waterfall, does not have precedents worldwide. “For this reason, technical advice from experts worldwide is essential in order for CELEC EP, through the Rio Coca Executive Commission (CERC), to develop studies, designs and execution of works, under the technical support of experts in the field, which will allow the CERC to make the best decisions regarding the alternatives to study and implement,” he said.
Fitzpatrick highlighted the joint cooperation between Ecuador and the U.S. “Today we complete a new milestone in this cooperation process, which began in 2020, when the erosion of the Coca River began. Our Government activated a response group, in May of last year, in order to facilitate and channel cooperation processes to face this phenomenon. The actions carried out lead us to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, which is the result of a path of trust between the governments, through the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Celec team, “he said.
The cooperation will be carried out for a period of five years.
