Convento Viejo dam concession attracts 8 to date

Eight groups have purchased bidding rules to date from Chile's public works ministry for the US$123mn Convento Viejo dam concession, a spokesperson from the ministry's concessions department told BNamericas. The contract entails expanding the current dam's capacity to 237M cu. m. from 27M cu. m., as well as building a channel supply system. Bidding rules went on sale February 2. The eight groups include Acsa Agbar, Belfi, Besalco and Itinere Chile, said the official. Technical and economic offers are due June 30, the same day technical offers will be opened, while economic offers will be opened July 23. The 32m-high dam would be built 15km south of Chimbarongo, on the river of the same name in Region VI. The reservoir would irrigate some 40,000ha, and has tourism and power-generation potential.