The Esti Hydro Power Project, Panama
A new hydro power project on the Chiriqui river boosts Panama’s electricity output.
Commissioned by AES, an American power utility, the project also provided more than 1,000 temporary jobs on the construction site and has stimulated local business in the Gualáca area.
Power to Panama
Designed by Vattenfall Power Consultant and built by Skanska, General Electric and Alstom, the two dams and hydro power station produce 650 GWh a year – corresponding to 10 per cent of Panama’s electricity supply.
Protecting the river
The project is designed to have as little negative impact on the local environment as possible and involved tapping water to ensure that river channels are never drained.
The project involves:
- A 25 m composite concrete-fill structure dam
- A 6 km canal
- A 5 km headrace tunnel
- A 60 m concrete-faced rock-filled dam
- A hydro power station with two 60 MW generating units with Francis turbines
Vattenfall Power Consultant’s part of the assignment amounted to USD 7 million.
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