TIMELINE: Ecuador's Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant
Eight years after the first stone was laid, Ecuador's government on Wednesday held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the official operations launch of the 1.5GW Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant in provinces Napo and Sucumbíos
The country's largest power generation complex came online with 750MW from four of its eight units, the rest of which will enter service in the coming months. Ecuador's principal electricity producer had been hydroelectric plant Molino with 1,075MW.
Initial studies into the Chinese-financed and built work were carried out in the 1970-80s.
Close to four decades later, President Rafael Correa and former Argentine head of state Cristina Fernández de Kirchner broke ground on the project in April 2008. Earlier that year, Ecuador generator Termopichincha and Argentina's state energy company Enarsa established special purpose company Coca Codo Sinclair.
Enarsa sold its Coca Codo Sinclair state to Ecuador's state power generation holding company Celec in 2009.
The project, however, had it share of difficulties that included lack of funds to pay contractors, strikes and an accident that caused 13 deaths, highlights BNamericas' Risk Analytics.
Coca Codo Sinclair is one of eight "emblematic" hydropower plants, of which Manduriacu (60MW) came online in 2015 and the others are set to do so through next year: Sopladora (487MW), Toachi (254MW), Delsitanisagua (180MW), Quijos (50MW), Mazar (21MW) and San Francisco (275MW).
Authorities aim for hydropower to account for over 90% of generation by 2021. The additional capacity not only will help cover local demand but also lead Ecuador's energy export push.
Other milestones during Coca Codo Sinclair's development include:
2007
- Project included in four-year plan released by the energy and mines ministry
- Tagged a priority by energy and hydrocarbons investment fund FEISEH
2008
- Declared a high national priority by power planning authority Conelec
- EPC call for bids issued
2010
- The government inks financing agreement with China's Ex-Im Bank; authorities announce that Sinohydro will carry out construction
2011
- Management and inspection contract signed with a consortium that includes Mexico's state power company CFE
- Project area declared a security zone and under control of the armed forces
- Construction, installation and operation permit issued
2012
- Tunnel boring machines arrive to drill the 25km water supply tunnel
2013
- Completion of caverns for machine house and transformers
2014
- Coca river diverted to water intake infrastructure
- Machine house electromechanical installation begins
2015
- Completion of the water supply tunnel
- Hydraulic testing begins
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