The Hydroelectric Project “El Cajón", undertaken on the Santiago River, is the largest Mexican Infrastructure construction in the last 10 years.
It forms part of the Santiago Hydrological System, which comprises 27 projects with the potential to supply 4,300 MW of hydroelectric energy. From this system, only 32% have been developed, represented by the construction of six Centers. El Cajón is in the second place in regards to potential and generation.
Its dam will contribute to regulating the runoff from the fiver basin and the Aguamilpa Center will benefit from it, since upon receiving its channel, the regulated water provided by the river will increase steady generation and reduce probabilities of overflowing the spillway.
The construction will make it possible to generate electric energy via two 375 MW units, forecasting an average annual generation of 1,228.65 GWh.
This construction work comprises the following:
- A 42 km long access route and two power lines with two 400 kV circuits, spanning a total approximate length of 18 km.
- Concrete rock curtains.
- Underground machine room.
- Rerouting of the Santiago River using two portal section tunnels and two cofferdams of specially designed materials.
- Spillway for controlling excess.
- Bridge over the Santiago river
- Generation construction work with an Underground Machine Room that houses two groups of turbo generators with a total installed potential of 750 MW at the generator output.
- Infrastructure construction works, social development and environmental protection.
An investment of more than 900 million dollars is estimated along with economic benefits of 200 million dollars.
The magnitude of the construction work has required a significant effort by the ULMA Construcción technical team.
Likewise, the assembly of the spillway piers, the arched wall, the ventilation canal and the chanfron beam was achieved using the Climbing System without roll-back and the Enkoform V-100.
For the general walls, drainage gallery and generator area in the Machine Room, the Climbing System with roll-back and Enkoform V-100 were used.
RAPID Horizontal Formwork was used in the construction of the Machine Room slabs.
Additionally, SP Prop was used for the support structures.
