Ministry launches Ancoa dam irrigation tender

The hydraulic works department of Chile's public works ministry has published bidding rules for a tender to study the economic irrigation potential of the US$34mn Ancoa multi-purpose dam project, the ministry announced Wednesday. The project entails a 120M cu. m. dam upstream from city Linares on the Ancoa river in Region VIII, which would directly benefit some 40,000ha. Offers for the tender are due November 6. The ministry expects the bidding process to build and operate the dam, which also could generate power, to be launched 1H04. The concession would run 20-25 years.