Consultancy call for 600MW Bolivia hydro draws initial interest

At least five groups are eyeing a consultancy contract to advance development of Bolivia’s 600MW Rositas hydro project.

Information from state power company Ende shows that AIN Active Bolivia, Amuc, Belmonte Ingenieros, Concremat Engenharia e Tecnologia and Semulcon, attended an information meeting for the work which covers social management and the environmental impact evaluation study.

The project is planned for the Grande river, downstream of its confluence with the Rositas river and 16km upstream from the Abapó community, spanning the departments of Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca.

The deadline to submit offers for the 24 million-boliviano (US$3.5mn), 210-day contract was extended to October 8.

Preliminary information highlights that Rositas would include a clay core earth dam, river diversion tunnels, a spillway, water intakes and a machine house to hold four turbines.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION

Meanwhile, the government has stepped up investment as part of rural electrification program PER III, with US$70mn allocated for 167 projects to benefit over 22,500 homes in La Paz department.

And under the IDTR III project, US$9mn will benefit 4,442 homes in Tarija department and US$7mn will benefit 3,636 homes in the Gran Chaco region.