The Manuel Piar Hydroelectric Power Plant (Tocoma Dam) is a stalled
hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...
development project in the Lower
Caroní River Basin of
Venezuela. The project, started in 2006, includes the installation of
MW to generate annual average energy of . As of 2019, the project is unfinished.
The project was awarded to OIV consortium, consisting of
Odebrecht (50%),
Salini Impregilo (40%) and
Vinccler (10%), with an initial budget
US$3,061 mil. Ten Kaplan generator units, of , manufactured by an Argentinian company , were predicted to begin operations between 2012 and 2014. These units had the world record as of 2012 in power generation at nominal head for Kaplan turbines. The diameter of the runner is and nominal head is with claimed output up to .
The first generator was installed but not yet commissioned in April 2012. Behind schedule, the dam began to impound its reservoir on 16 November 2015. The budget tripled to $9,4 billion in 2017, as of 2019 the project is still unfinished.
Odebrecht spent between 2007 and 2015 at least $118 million on
bribes
Bribery is the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official, or other person, in charge of a public or legal duty. With regard to governmental operations, essentially, bribery is "Corru ...
related to the project.
References
Dams under construction
Hydroelectric power stations in Venezuela
Dams in Venezuela
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