Reventazón Dam

Reventazón Dam
Location of Reventazón Dam
Country Costa Rica
Location Siquirres, Limón Province,
Coordinates 10°3′56.05″N 83°34′48.79″W / 10.0655694°N 83.5802194°WCoordinates: 10°3′56.05″N 83°34′48.79″W / 10.0655694°N 83.5802194°W
Purpose Power
Status Under construction
Construction began 2009
Opening date 2016 est.
Owner(s) Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment, concrete-face rock-fill
Impounds Reventazón River
Height 130 m (430 ft)
Length 527 m (1,729 ft)
Dam volume 9,000,000 m3 (12,000,000 cu yd)
Reservoir
Total capacity 118,000,000 m3 (96,000 acre·ft)
Surface area 7 km2 (2.7 sq mi)
Max. length 8 km (5.0 mi)
Power station
Name Reventazón Hydropower Plant
Coordinates 10°4′59.82″N 83°33′40.95″W / 10.0832833°N 83.5613750°W
Commission date 2016 est.
Type Conventional, diversion
Turbines 3 x 74 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity 296 MW

The Reventazón Dam is a concrete-face rock-fill dam currently being constructed on the Reventazón River about 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Siquirres in Limón Province, Costa Rica. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and its power station will have an installed capacity of 296 MW, the largest in the country.[1][2] Construction on the dam began in 2009 and it is expected to be complete in 2016. At a height of 130 m (430 ft) and with a structural volume of 9,000,000 m3 (12,000,000 cu yd), it will be the largest dam in Central America.[3] To produce electricity, water from the reservoir is diverted about 3 km (1.9 mi) to the northeast where it reaches the power station along the Reventazón River.[4]

References

  1. "Reventazón Hydropower Project". Inter-America Development Bank. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. "Reventazón - A new butterfly valve for the penstock of the largest hydropower project in Costa Rica". Andritz. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. Arias, L. (19 December 2014). "Construction of Central America's biggest hydroelectric dam is nearly finished in Costa Rica". The Tico Times. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. "Project of the Month." (in Spanish). Pedregal. Retrieved 20 December 2014.