Initiative for the creation of hydraulic infrastructure in the lower basin of the Choluteca River advances in Honduras

Tegucigalpa, August 05, 2021.- As part of the initiatives to support flood control risk mitigation in Honduras, this Thursday the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) announced the conclusion of the selection process of the company that will develop the "Technical and Economic Prefeasibility Study of Hydraulic Infrastructures in the Lower Choluteca River Basin", which includes the Morolica Dam. 

The studies, which include hydrological and topographical analyses, evaluation of preliminary environmental and social impacts, among others, amounting to US$529,950.00, are financed with a Contingent Recovery Technical Cooperation to the Government of Honduras, recently approved by CABEI and will serve as a reference for the Feasibility Study and Final Design of the works.

"We celebrate this step forward in the development of an impact project that will improve water security in the lower basin of the Choluteca River, mitigating floods and droughts for the benefit of 250,000 inhabitants of this area, in addition to supplying water for human consumption and irrigation and hydroelectric energy. These types of interventions strengthen the region's resilience to natural phenomena and improve the inhabitants' quality of life," said CABEI Executive President, Dr. Dante Mossi.

During the public bidding process, 19 bidders from different countries expressed interest and 5 of them submitted bids, resulting in the selection of Consortium Lombardi Latinoamérica S.A. / Lombardi S.A. Ingegneri Consulenti, whose headquarters are located in Switzerland with a subsidiary in the region. CABEI and the selected Consortium will sign a ten-month contract in the next few days.

This initiative is in line with CABEI's 2020-2024 Institutional Strategy, specifically the Human Development and Social Inclusion Axis, which foresees the generation of social capacities to achieve the objective of improving the wellbeing and quality of life of the Central American region, and the Environmental and Social Sustainability Transversal Axis for the preservation of the environment.