Bajo Frio
Chiriqui Viejo River where the Bajo Frio project is located
The construction of the Bajo Frio project has started and the commissioning will take place in 2014.
The project
Agua Imara and Credicorp group have entered into a strategic alliance for developing hydropower projects in Panama. Through the joint venture company Fountain Intertrade Corp, the alliance have started to develop the Bajo Frio project, a 58 MW run-off river scheme located in the lower part of the Chiriqui Viejo River, in the Chiriqui province in western Panama, one hour away from the country’s second largest city, David.
Agua Imara owns 50.1% of Bajo Frio, and is the industrial developer of the project.
Construction
The construction of the Bajo Frio project was commenced in August 2011. It is expected to be in operation from early 2014 with an expected average annual production of 260 GWh.
Sustainable Development
The project provides job creation locally through a CSR training program, which offers training of unskilled labour. It also contributes to infrastructure development in the Chiriqui province.
Bajo Frio is currently requesting to be approved and registered to generate carbon credits under the UN`s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Through generation of renewable energy, Bajo Frio will replace some of Panama`s thermal power production and the the project will reduce global CO2 emissions by an estimated 150 000 tonnes annually. The prospect of CDM approval and registration was a decisive factor for the realisation of the project.