Dec. start set for Falcon aqueduct work

Construction will begin in December for an aqueduct in central Venezuela's Falcon state designed to provide 8,000 l/s water, project planning director Jose Luis Martinez announced. Chinese consultancy Chinacam is finalizing project timelines, state news agency Venpres said. The consultancy, which earlier this year provided initial funding of US$15mn for the project, will administer 75% of the project bill, which could reach US$220mn, and the Venezuela government will finance the balance, BNamericas previously reported. The consultancy will also be responsible for much of the works, though a project source previously told BNamericas that Chinacam would contract a Venezuelan firm to assist, since it would be costly to import equipment from China. The aqueduct - Acueducto Bolivariano de Falcon - is designed to solve water supply problems in that state by channeling treated water from the Maticora dam. Under normal circumstances, the facility should maintain the 8,000 l/s capacity until 2045, though with care, it could continue 20 to 30 years after that date, Venpres said.