The US studies carrying out works on the Coca river

The Electricity Corporation of Ecuador and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Usace) signed a cooperation agreement to provide technical assistance to the Government of Ecuador, to mitigate regressive erosion, progressive sedimentation and their impacts on the operations of the Complex. Coca Codo Sinclair Hydroelectric.

Last June, US technicians inspected the damage.

Delegates from the Usace visited the affected area in July and September 2021 and determined a joint work, but first the corresponding studies must be carried out, such as: specific consultations with the United States Geological Survey, the Bureau of Claims of the United States and the United States Agricultural Research Service, which will have knowledge in fluviomorphology and sedimentology, to develop mitigation alternatives and review proposals for engineering solutions.

Likewise, studies related to the numerical model of downstream sedimentation will also be carried out, in which the sediment transport models will be verified.

In relation to works there is the “assurance of construction quality”, in this task, the Usace “will cooperate and provide support during the execution phases of protection infrastructures for the buildings of the catchment of the Coca Codo Sinclair plant”.

Experts from that country are also studying engineering measures to mitigate the impacts associated with the collapse of the San Rafael waterfall.