In the absence of 13% to complete the work of Hidroituango, the EPM administration has already set zero hour for the start of its operation: It is Tuesday, July 26 of this year.
(Read: They confirm a sanction against EPM for not putting Hidroituango into operation).
The announcement was made by the general manager of the conglomerate, Jorge Andrés Carrillo, when he underlined that on that day the first kilowatt hours of energy will begin to be generated from the first turbine that has 300 megawatts (MW) of installed capacityand that it would be enough to meet the electricity demand of a city like Pereira or Ibagué.
Likewise, this zero hour announcement (in which event the President of the Republic, Iván Duque, who canceled his attendance hours before, was not present), is the second that EPM makes in this regard, since the first, which was scheduled for November 2018, it was not achieved due to the contingency that was generated on April 28 of that year.
To the above is added the ratification of the Superservices to confirm the sanction imposed on EPM for a value of $1,817 million in November 2021by not putting the megaproject into commercial operation.
Thus, the entity resolved the reversal appeal filed by EPM and confirmed that, due to the delay in the commissioning of Hidroituango, the company failed to comply with the start date of the period of validity of the OEF Firm Energy Obligations assigned to it. by Creg in the auction held in June 2008.
(Read: Hidroituango: the 5 critical findings in the Pöyry report).
And also, because the National Authority for Environmental Licenses (Anla) has not ruled in depth regarding the issue of the environmental license.
Resolution 820 of 2018 of the environmental entity is still in force, and which imposed the restrictions for carrying out regular works, and that only one of the requirements was fulfilled until December 30, which was the presentation of the technical stability report. made by the Pöyry company, which is key to establish if the mega-work can have its environmental license againwith which the final works that are needed to reach 100% of the work would be completed, and begin to deliver the energy that the country needs, including the first turbine scheduled for July.
(What’s more: They declare repaired the patrimonial detriment in the Hidroituango case).
Likewise, the Anla in its final decision (whose discussion began a few days ago and according to spokespersons of the entity will take the necessary time), must rigorously analyze all the key points highlighted in the Pöyry study, which must be addressed, to the start-up of the turbines, and in particular, attention to the structure of the spillway.
“Anla’s analysis of the Pöyry report is pending, which we trust will happen this semester and will be positive, we will be attentive to any recommendation that they make us, but the project is not going to stop”, EPM’s general manager, Jorge Andrés Carrillo, said in this regard.
PROGRESS OF THE MEGAWORK
For the technicians who lead the works in the development of Hidroituango, they explain that since the day of the contingency (April 28, 2018) 45 months have passed and to date, and that according to the schedule, They point out that in 174 days the operation of the megaproject will begin, thanks to the fact that nearly 7,500 workers have redoubled their efforts in several work shifts.
Among the most important currently being executed to fulfill the purpose of generating energy is the installation of electromechanical equipment such as the turbine of unit 1, a task that will be carried out in February. Similarly follows the installation of the rotor and the first quarter of the stator.
“For the months between May and June, the coating of the vertical tube that conducts the water to the first unit in the power house and that will pass through the generator will be carried out. I must emphasize that we have the best resources, with an efficient team and that is why we are convinced of making the project a reality for an entire country”explained the engineer Giraldo Jiménez, director of the project.
He added that, in this way, the megaproject enters a decisive phase, which makes it a hope for Colombia’s energy security, “for its development and competitiveness in the coming decades”.
Regarding other progress of the megawork, EPM reported that the construction of the megaproject reached a construction progress of 86.9%, and that in unit 2 the emptying of missing concrete is being carried out; civil works in units 3 and 4 are progressing according to schedule. In addition, the installation of the spiral chambers and the stationary rings should be carried out in the coming months.
In addition, there is a 24-hour surveillance on the behavior of the dam and the spillway.
BRIEFCASE
