El Quimbo Dam

El Quimbo Dam

El Quimbo Dam is hydroelectric power project under development in the Huila Department, the Magdalena River. It is located about 1,300 meters. Its works were officially opened on February 25, 2011 in the presence of President Juan Manuel Santos. It is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country. The project is planned to be completed over a period of 4 years.

The project will have a powerhouse near the base of the dam with an installed capacity of 400 MW The objective is to enhance the energy security and stability of the Colombian electricity supply.

Ecological impacts:

The ecological and social impacts have been examined in great details and remedial actions have been planned for all the identified impacts. The major impacts are submergence of land (both agricultural and forest areas), displacement of people coming under submergence, submergence of a bridge over the Yaguilga River, submergence of the church of San José de Belén, the submergence of cocoa orchards of Río Loro, 78 archaeological sites between two archaeological regions, effect on fisheries, terrestrial fauna due to submergence and submergence of infrastructure works.

Disadvantages:

• Flood of permanent and temporary crops, and flooding of grazingpastures, breeding and fattening of cattle, sheep and goats.
• Flooding and road deactivation carreteables, vehicular and pedestrian bridges.
• Loss of the most fertile land in the municipality, with a high content of organic matter, gravity irrigation systems and high productivity.
• Re-location of 26% of the rural population.
• Food safety department will be drastically affected because the area to be flooded to produce fruit, corn, banana, rice, cacao, sorghum, soybeans, milk, meat, etc... . Among other products of great importance to the diet local, regional and national levels.
• The Hydroelectric Quimbo directly affect the five (5) trails of the most important and most traditional of Municipality: The Escalereta, La Canada, San José de Belén, The Yaguilga and El Pedernal.
• Destruction of forests, habitat for endangered species such as deer, foxes, ocelots, monkeys, birds, reptiles and amphibians.