Ministry grants Emgesa environmental license for El Quimbo

Colombia's environmental ministry has awarded energy company Emgesa an environmental license to build the 400MW El Quimbo hydro project in Hulia department. According to the terms of the license, Emgesa will have to guarantee relocation compensation for 360 families and pay to reforest 20,000ha of land, the ministry said in a statement. Emgesa will also have to create programs to protect native wildlife in the Magdalena river basin. Emgesa will invest US$900mn in the project, which is due to start commercial operations in 2014. Construction is due to begin this year and wrap up in 2013-14, according to information on the project website. The project area covers 8,586ha and will generate 2.22TWh/y. Spanish power giant Endesa controls Emgesa through its Enersis subsidiary.