Construction of the San Fransisco hydro power plant in Ecuador, estimated to cost US$243M, is expected to begin in May.
In March, President of Ecuador Gustavo Noboa, approved construction of the plant, which will be carried out by the consortium Hidropas-taza SA. The project was delayed for about two years due to legal action filed by a rival bidder for the project — Consorcio San Francisco (CSF) CSF in its suit against the electric council, Conelec, claimed that it had won the tender for the project in mid 1998, after Conelec awarded the project to Asociacion Pastraza.
The San Francisco hydroelectric plant will reduce the electricity deficit in the country by 12% and decrease power cuts which cost the industrial sector US$1M per day.