Ecuador's Third-Largest Hydropower Station Delivered

The Minas 3×90MW hydropower project in Ecuador was delivered to its buyer CELEC SUR, the supervision company HIDROJUBONES and the inspection committee on June 2, local time.

It was the first and the only civil engineering structure already completed and delivered among the large-scale hydropower projects built by Chinese enterprises in the country.

As one of the most important hydropower projects based on the Pacific Ocean water system, the Minas hydropower project is the third-largest of its kind in Ecuador and will improve the country's electrical energy network, provide more clean energy and promote regional economic growth.

Generally contracted by Harbin Electric Corporation (HE), the project includes construction of three hydro-generator units with an installed capacity of 90MW each. The units are expected to produce 129 million kWh of power annually.

The main power generation equipment including the hydro-generator, the excitation system and the governor were designed and manufactured by HE. Other supporting facilities were also produced and supplied by Chinese manufacturers.

The project is the first EPC contract HE has had in South America and the company used several key technologies in response to difficulties during construction.

For example the full-face raise-boring machine was used to dig the ventilation cable shaft and pressure shaft, the first time that had been done by Chinese enterprises in an overseas project.

On Oct 29, 2015, the 5.5-meter diameter and 452-meter deep pressure shaft was completed. Its accuracy, full-face expanding diameter and depth are at world- leading levels.

It's worth mentioning that the Minas project includes a 78-meter roller-compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam. It was completed on Dec 29, 2016 and is the first full RCC dam in Ecuador.

HE gained rich experience in EPC contracts for overseas large-scale hydropower projects through the Minas project and continues to contribute to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

A view of the Minas 3X90MW hydropower project in Ecuador [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The 78-meter RCC gravity dam in construction [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Hao Wen)