Ituango Dam
{{Short description|Dam in Ituango, Colombia}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Ituango Dam
| name_official = Pescadero-Ituango "José Tejada Sáenz"
| image = Proceso de construcción del Proyecto Hidroeléctrico Ituango .jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Construction site in 2014
| image_alt =
| location_map = Colombia
| location_map_size =
| location_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|7|07|50.04|N|75|39|48.7|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = Colombia
| location = Ituango
| status =UC
| construction_began = 2011
| opening = 2022 (2 turbines){{cite web | url=https://www.valoraanalitik.com/2022/10/18/turbina-hidroituango-operar-30-noviembre-irene-velez/ | title=Primera turbina de Hidroituango empieza a operar el 30 de noviembre: Irene Vélez | date=18 October 2022 }})
| demolished =
| cost = US$3.8 billion
| owner =
| dam_type = Embankment, earth-fill clay core
| dam_height = {{Convert|225|m|abbr=on}}
| dam_height_thalweg =
| dam_height_foundation=
| dam_length =
| dam_width_crest =
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume = {{Convert|19000000|m3|abbr=on}}
| dam_elevation_crest =
| dam_crosses = Cauca River
| spillway_count =
| spillway_type = Service, gate controlled
| spillway_capacity = {{Convert|22600|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| res_name =
| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|2720000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_active ={{Convert|980000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment =
| res_surface = {{Convert|38|km2|abbr=on}}
| res_elevation =
| res_max_depth =
| res_max_length ={{Convert|127|km|abbr=on}}
| res_max_width =
| plant_hydraulic_head = {{Convert|197|m|abbr=on}} (nominal)
| res_tidal_range =
| plant_operator = EPM Ituango
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type =
| plant_turbines = 8 x {{convert|307|MW|abbr=on}} Francis type
| plant_capacity = {{convert|2456|MW|abbr=on}} (planned)
| plant_annual_gen = {{convert|9,200|GWh|abbr=on}} (firm)
| website = http://www.hidroituango.com.co (Spanish)
| extra =
}}
The Ituango Dam, also referred to as the Pescadero-Ituango Dam or Hidroituango, is an embankment dam currently under construction on the Cauca River near Ituango in Antioquia Department, Colombia. The primary purpose of the project is hydroelectric power generation, and its power plant will have an installed capacity of {{convert|2456|MW}} if completed. Preliminary construction on the dam began in September 2011 and the power plant was expected to begin operations in late 2018, but will not after heavy rainfall and landslides in April/May 2018 blocked the river's diversion tunnel,{{Needs update|date=May 2025}} threatening a breach of the dam.{{cite web |title=Chadbourne Represented EPM Ituango in BOOMT Contract for the 2400 MW Hidroituango Project |url=http://www.chadbourne.com/Chadbourne-Represented-EPM-ITUANGO-in-BOOMT-CONTRACT-FOR-THE-2400-MW-HIDROITUANGO-PROJECT-04-28-2011/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729115819/http://www.chadbourne.com/Chadbourne-Represented-EPM-ITUANGO-in-BOOMT-CONTRACT-FOR-THE-2400-MW-HIDROITUANGO-PROJECT-04-28-2011/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2012 |accessdate=9 July 2011 |date=28 April 2011 }} If completed, it will be the largest power station in Colombia.{{cite web |title=China, South Korea companies in race for Colombia hydropower deal |url=http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/economy/8005-china-south-korea-companies-in-race-for-colombia-hydropower-deal-.html |publisher=Colombia Reports |accessdate=9 July 2011 |date=3 February 2010 |archive-date=21 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921101221/http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/economy/8005-china-south-korea-companies-in-race-for-colombia-hydropower-deal-.html |url-status=dead }}
Background
The dam's feasibility study was completed in 1983, but the project was shelved in the 1990s due to an economic crisis.{{cite web |title=Colombia hydro utility to build 2,688-MW Pescadero Ituango |url=http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/99999/articles/hrhrw/News/Colombia_hydro_utility_to_build_2688-MW_Pescadero_Ituango.html |publisher=HydroWorld |accessdate=9 July 2011 |date=7 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313102925/http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/99999/articles/hrhrw/News/Colombia_hydro_utility_to_build_2688-MW_Pescadero_Ituango.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} The final designs for the project were finished in 2008, and on 8 July 2011, the project management contract was awarded. Preliminary construction (surveying, roads, bridges, diversion tunnels) began in September 2011 and it is expected to be complete in 2013.{{Needs update|date=May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Construction preparation begins for 2,400-MW Ituango in Colombia |url=http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display.articles.hrhrw.hydroindustrynews.newdevelopment.2011.09.construction-preparation-begins-for-2400-mw-ituango-in-colombia.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html |publisher=Hydro World |accessdate=29 March 2012 |date=22 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324214756/http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display.articles.hrhrw.hydroindustrynews.newdevelopment.2011.09.construction-preparation-begins-for-2400-mw-ituango-in-colombia.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html |archive-date=24 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} Main works will begin thereafter and the power plant is expected to being commissioning in 2018.{{Needs update|date=May 2025}} Development of the project is being proposed by EPM Ituango, a consortium of Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM) and the Antioquia government. The total cost is expected to be US$2.8 billion.{{cite web |title=Evolution of Expansion Plans |url=http://www.epm.com.co/docs-bid/energia/proyectos-energia-EN.pdf |publisher=EPM |accessdate=9 July 2011}}{{cite web |title=Consortium wins US66 million contract for Ituango hydro project build in Colombia |url=http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/7635287117/articles/hrhrw/hydroindustrynews/newdevelopment/2011/07/consortium-wins_us66.html |publisher=HydroWorld |accessdate=9 July 2011 |date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313102858/http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/7635287117/articles/hrhrw/hydroindustrynews/newdevelopment/2011/07/consortium-wins_us66.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Design
The dam will be a {{Convert|225|m|4=-tall|adj=mid}} earth-fill embankment type with a clay core. The volume of the dam will be {{Convert|19|e6m3|}}. Its reservoir will have a capacity of {{Convert|2720|e6m3|acre.ft}}, of which {{Convert|980|e6m3|acre.ft|}} will be active (or "useful") capacity. The reservoir will be {{Convert|127|km}} long and cover an area of {{Convert|38|km2|}}. To maintain reservoir levels, the dam will have a spillway controlled by four radial gates with a design flow of {{Convert|22600|m3/s}}. The dam's power plant will have a nominal hydraulic head of {{Convert|197|m}} and contain eight {{convert|307|MW|adj=on}} Francis turbine-generators.{{cite web |title=Datos Técnicos |url=http://www.hidroituango.com.co/hidroituango/index.php/es/el-proyecto/datos-tecnicos |publisher=Hidroeléctrica Ituango |accessdate=9 July 2011 |language=Spanish }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Diversion tunnel blockage
Three tunnels were constructed to divert the Cauca River around the construction site. Two were eventually sealed during construction, leaving a third to divert the river.{{cite web |title=Reabren 3 túneles para evacuar aguas embalsadas en Hidroituango |url=http://caracol.com.co/emisora/2018/05/08/medellin/1525779198_834090.html |publisher=Caracol Radio |accessdate=17 May 2018|date=8 May 2018}} Between 28 April and 7 May 2018, three landslides blocked the tunnel, leading the reservoir to fill.{{cite web |title=Nuevo derrumbe en proyecto Hidroituango |url=http://www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/hidroituango-presento-un-nuevo-derrumbe-XC8631321 |publisher=El Colombiano |accessdate=17 May 2018|date=30 April 2018}} Engineers attempted to open the two closed tunnels with explosives but were unsuccessful. On 10 May, when the reservoir reached the power-station intake, engineers began releasing water through the unfinished powerhouse to prevent a breach of the dam.{{cite web |title=Se agrava situación en Hidroituango, deberán inundar casa de máquinas |url=http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/medellin/hidroituango-inundara-casa-de-maquinas-por-represamiento-de-agua-215834 |publisher=El Tiempo |accessdate=17 May 2018|date=10 May 2018}} On 12 May one of the previously sealed tunnels naturally reopened, which suddenly increased downstream flows by three times the average.{{cite web |title=Así fue el destaponamiento del túnel de Hidroituango |url=http://www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/hidroituango-destaponamiento-del-tunel-IN8690291 |publisher=El Colombiano |accessdate=17 May 2018|date=12 May 2018}} This promoted evacuations downstream, eventually totaling around 25,000.{{cite web |title=Hidroituango: cuatro puentes afectados deja incremento del nivel de aguas del río Cauca |url=http://www.wradio.com.co/noticias/actualidad/hidroituango-cuatro-puentes-afectados-deja-incremento-del-nivel-de-aguas-del-rio-cauca/20180513/nota/3749184.aspx |publisher=W Radio |accessdate=17 May 2018|date=13 May 2018}}
On May 16 silt build-up in a portion of the power house, the only means to drain the reservoir, led to water escaping into a transit gallery used by construction vehicles. The water eventually poured onto the downstream face of the dam, eroding the roadway and a portion of the riprap.{{cite web |title="Hubo una obstrucción en la casa de máquinas": EPM sobre emergencia en Hidroituango |url=https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/nacional/hubo-una-obstruccion-en-la-casa-de-maquinas-epm-sobre-emergencia-en-hidroituango-articulo-788913 |publisher=El Espectador |accessdate=17 May 2018|date=16 May 2018}} Subsequently, EPM announced that a risk of collapse existed, and workers continued to fill the dam to its design height in hopes that the spillway could be used to prevent an over-topping of the dam.{{cite web |title='Existe la posibilidad de que se rompa la presa de Hidroituango': gerente de EPM |url=https://www.elespectador.com/economia/existe-la-posibilidad-de-que-se-rompa-la-presa-de-hidrotuango-presidente-de-epm-articulo-789028 |publisher=El Espectador |accessdate=17 May 2018|date=17 May 2018}} Heavy rainfall was expected in the Cauca River basin through the end of May.{{cite web|title=Colombia Ituango Dam Emergency 22 May 2018|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ECDM_20180522_Colombia_Dam_Floods.pdf|website=Relief Web|publisher=European Commission|accessdate=25 May 2018}}
On May 19 the dam works reached an elevation of {{Val|405|u=m}}, {{Val|5|u=m}} below the cofferdam's target level.{{cite web |title=Hidroituango dam fail emergency |url=https://sciengsustainability.blogspot.com/2018/05/hidroituango-dam-fail-emergency.html |publisher=Science Engineering & Sustainability |accessdate=24 March 2019|date=24 March 2019}} On May 25 Dr Ordoñez issued a letter expressing his panic about the situation because "Ituango project is dead and there is no control over it, so the most natural thing is to expect it to fail; we are sure that it is easier to fail than not to fail, and we are truly in a panic".{{cite web |title=Hidroituango hydropower dam Colombia. Opinion from Dr Ordoñez |url=https://sciengsustainability.blogspot.com/2018/05/hidroituango-hydropower-dam-colombia.html |publisher=Science Engineering & Sustainability |accessdate=24 March 2019|date=24 March 2019}}
Environmental impact
Some sources argue that the dam construction has severe ecological consequences, and there are displaced families, environmentalists, youth groups, and concerned locals that oppose the project.{{Cite web
| title = Colombia's other war
| author = Naomi Cohen
| work = Le Monde diplomatique
| date = 16 January 2017
| accessdate = 28 January 2017
| url = http://mondediplo.com/outsidein/colombia-s-other-war}} Other publications argue that the project will benefit millions through extra revenue towards social and infrastructure programs.{{Cite web
| title = Hidroituango avanza con beneficios para Antioquia
| author = Edgar Domínguez
| work = Portfolio
| date = 13 March 2013
| accessdate = 6 February 2019
| url = https://www.portafolio.co/negocios/empresas/hidroituango-avanza-beneficios-antioquia-70550
}}
In February 2019, the Project came under increased pressure from local and national governmental regulatory agencies{{Citation|title=Hidroituango: investigan al alcalde de Medellín y al gobernador de Antioquia|date=2019-02-11|url=https://canal1.com.co/noticias/hidroituango-investigan-al-alcalde-medellin-al-gobernador-antioquia/ |access-date=2019-02-12}} because of the closure of the river flow and the environmental and economic impact downstream. Moreover, studies from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia showed that the failure of the dam is likely unless an emergency plan was adopted. The safety of the downstream communities was highlighted as critical.{{Cite web|url=https://noticias.caracoltv.com/hidroituango-en-emergencia/estudio-de-la-universidad-nacional-revela-panorama-preocupante-del-futuro-de-hidroituango-ie27972 |title=Estudio de la Universidad Nacional revela panorama preocupante del futuro de Hidroituango|date=2019-02-06|website=Noticias Caracol|language=ES|access-date=2019-02-12}}{{Citation|title=Hidroituango es una amenaza para comunidades en área de influencia: científico Portilla|url=https://canal1.com.co/emision/hidroituango-es-una-amenaza-para-comunidades-en-area-de-influencia-cientifico-portilla/ |access-date=2019-02-12}} By November 2022, drills evacuated 5,000 people to prepare for the operation of the dam.{{cite web |title=EPM evacuates downstream towns in test before starting 2.4 GW Ituango hydro |url=https://www.hydroreview.com/hydro-industry-news/epm-evacuates-downstream-towns-in-test-before-starting-2-4-gw-ituango-hydro/ |website=Hydro Review |date=16 November 2022}}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Colombia|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
References
{{reflist|33em}}