Santiago Rodríguez.- The president Luis Abinader This Saturday he led the event of the definitive diversion of the Guayubín River, in the province of Santiago Rodríguez, where he ordered the removal of the provisional cofferdam and the opening of the breach that allowed the controlled return of the water to its natural channel, marking a decisive milestone in the final stage of construction of the Boca de los Ríos dam, a work carried out by the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID).
This intervention concludes one of the most relevant technical phases of the project, which consolidates a strategic infrastructure for the water security and productive development of the Northwest region.
During the event, President Abinader highlighted the importance of the construction of the Guayubín dam, by the EGEHID Company, a work that will contribute significantly to the water supply of the municipality of Sabaneta and the comprehensive development of the province of Santiago Rodríguez and the entire region.
The president explained that the project will not only guarantee water supply, but will also allow regional integration and help prevent floods, one of the four main objectives of hydraulic infrastructure. He pointed out that the dam represents a strategic initiative to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants and strengthen the management of water resources.
Likewise, he reported that the work is progressing according to the established schedule and is expected to be ready at the end of the year, specifically in the month of December. He indicated that the current process includes a key stage such as the diversion of the dam, an action that marks an important advance in its construction.
President Abinader described the day as a special day for the beginning of this fundamental phase of the project and assured that the necessary instructions will continue to be given to guarantee the successful completion of the work.
In the ceremony, held at the site of the dam, the president ordered the removal of the provisional cofferdam, after which the breach was opened that allowed the controlled return of the water to its natural channel, in the direction of the dam wall, until it crossed the diversion galleries built within the concrete body.
Work progresses by 84%
The central words of the event were given by the general administrator of the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID), Ángel Rafael Salazar, who highlighted that the work is progressing at 84% and incorporates key solutions such as flood control, aqueducts for the area, energy generation and eco-development actions, for the direct benefit of the impacted communities.
He recalled that the first diversion was carried out in March 2023 to allow the dry construction of the main body of the dam, designed to regulate the Guayubín and Yaguajay rivers, to mitigate risks against floods.
Salazar explained that, with the execution of this second diversion, the river returns to its natural channel, crossing the concrete body of the dam through the diversion galleries. This condition will be maintained until the completion of the work, at which time the galleries will be closed using the gate system, giving way to the beginning of the reservoir filling process.
For his part, the project director, engineer José Caputo, stated that this second and definitive diversion of the river constitutes a fundamental milestone in the progress of the project. “This event marks a key transition in the construction sequence of the work,” he said.
Security and storage capacity
The project was adjusted to the new international norms and standards regarding dam safety, which will allow for a more robust and reliable infrastructure, with the capacity to store more than 50 million cubic meters of water.
This capacity not only strengthens flood prevention, but also guarantees strategic reserves for human and productive supply, reducing the vulnerability of communities to periods of drought.
Economic and social impact
The Boca de los Ríos dam seeks to improve the supply of drinking water, support the agricultural industry, regulate the flooding of the Guayubín and Yaguajay rivers and generate clean energy.
Likewise, it will guarantee the supply of water to the municipality of San Ignacio de Sabaneta, it will promote agricultural and livestock irrigation, impacting some 98,000 productive tasks and will contribute to the promotion of fish farming, ecotourism and other economic activities in the area.
Simultaneously, the installation of the radial gates of the landfill is progressing, key pieces for the hydraulic management of the work, each with dimensions of 12 meters wide by 14 meters high and an approximate weight of 110 tons.
The dam is part of the EGEHID Master Plan, which contemplates new dams, hydropumping systems, cleaning of reservoirs and the modernization of existing hydroelectric plants, as part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the national energy system.
