Three large hydroelectric plants: Sopladora, Coca Codo Sinclair and Toachi Pilatón, which were built by Chinese companies and cost the country a total of about 3.6 billion dollars, are experiencing various complications these days. Some problems have just been noticed, and others, which have been occurring for years, still do not have a final solution.

In the case of Sopladora ($750 million), a hydroelectric plant located on the provincial border between Azuay and Moron Santiago, which has three production units of 162.3 MW each, a shaft failure is evident (two weeks ago). turbines of Block 02. The inspection was carried out as part of the maintenance scheduled for 40,000 hours of operation of the mentioned unit, in this hydroelectric power plant built by Gezhouba and Fopeca. According to Gonzalo Uquillas, manager of Celec, the problem arose because although the shaft itself was made of the correct steel, the nuts and washers were not of the best quality. When it loosened, there was a problem with the shaft.

Therefore, a team of technicians from Harbin Electric International, a manufacturer of electromechanical blower equipment, arrived in Ecuador this Monday to evaluate a temporary, safe and reliable option to repair the affected shaft to reduce the downtime of this unit. . It is then that there is a danger of lack of energy due to dry weather. On the other hand, the new axle has already been ordered for production, for the final solution.

Additionally, to ensure the safe and correct operation of the two remaining generating units in the engine room, Celec EP technical staff performed a complete inspection of the elements that make up the turbine-generator assembly of unit 03. In this case, the problem was also found in the nuts and washers, but it is favorable that it did not affect the shaft. For this reason, this generating unit was supposed to resume operation and synchronize with the National Interconnection System (SNI) this Tuesday, September 12.

In the meantime, beginning on September 16, block 01 will be monitored for twelve days to determine its condition.

When Uquillas was asked who would bear the cost of procuring a new Unit 02 axle, he explained that the insurer had already been notified of this development, thus safeguarding the Corporation’s property and assets. Uquillas explained that this plant, which is part of the Paute integral hydroelectric complex, was commissioned six years ago.

Furthermore, he commented that although it is not the same case, he finds similarities between what happened with Soplador and what happened with Coca Codo Sinclair, which has not yet been definitively accepted and which presented a series of problems related to cracks in distributors.

Coca Codo ($2.5 billion), which is located in Napo and Sucumbíos, showed thousands of cracks in distributors. In any case, as far as Coca Codo is concerned, he said that a meeting was held with Power China (a Chinese company whose subsidiary is Sinohydro) in recent days to seek solutions to the various problems that exist in this factory. He stated that currently eight turbines are available for operation, but the flow does not allow it. The first symptoms of dry weather are already appearing in the eastern regions.

He explained that currently the construction process (reception) of the Center is 92% complete. However, other sensitive issues are under arbitration. In addition, he said Celec has $190 million in warranties, guaranteeing that these outstanding issues are properly rectified and that the service life is guaranteed for 50 years. He explained that they do not plan to hold the final reception until 100% of the problem is resolved, and for that the inconveniences indicated in the Comptroller’s Office and international arbitration should be resolved.

Among the issues in which progress is being made, we can mention the documentation procedures, as well as the dredging of the compensatory reservoir. This process will be completed in May 2024, but in the meantime a temporary solution has been agreed to remove 200,000 cubic meters of sediment from the compensation reservoir.

ALLURIQUÍN, Santo Domingo. Two of the project’s three generators have yet to be completed, only the construction work has been completed.

On the other hand, said Uquillas, work continues on the Toachi Pilatón ($370 million) problem, which was built by CWE but did not meet construction deadlines. Currently, what Celec is looking for is to be able to begin tests of Alluriquín, a 204-megawatt plant and part of the complex, in December 2024. For that, the Army Corps of Engineers has been hired to correct the outstanding issues.

The good news is that this would provide a 4% cost savings and two to three months of time. The completion of this solution will allow us to continue working with Tyazhmash, a Russian company engaged in 2019 to complete the project. The company began to demand an extension of its durability.

On this topic, Fernando Salinas, an energy analyst and university professor, assured that there is a common thread between the three power plants, which is that the governments have not been able to get Ecuador’s state rights to prevail, with a firm stance, because these are works that are being carried out alongside the Chinese financing. Governments were afraid to influence relations with that Asian government, so as not to influence the source of funding.

In addition, he believes that Coca Codo and Toachi Pilatón are problems inherited from the government of Rafael Correa, but that unfortunately they have not found a solution. Toachi Pilatón was due for repair, it was 82% complete. In any case, he pointed out that, according to what is known, the Russian company InteRao has just won an arbitration award in Chile for 50 million dollars for Ecuador. Additionally, the Coca Codo Sinclair issue could have been resolved by handing over that property to a construction company, but extinguishing the national debt.

For Salinas, Coca Codo is a serious problem, as the cracks in the dividers widen rather than mend. In addition, he warned that one of the biggest threats to this complex is regressive erosion. “There is complete uncertainty about a plant that represents 25% of production,” he added.