Hydro-energy Basins
The Republic of Panama currently has 12 hydro-energy basins with many operational hydroelectric plants. The following paragraphs provide a detailed description of the individual Hydrographic Basins of Panama and all the hydroelectric plants.
Basin 91 of Changuinola River.
River Basin 91 has a total area of 3,202 km². Its main river is the Changuinola River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 262.94MW that is provided by two hydroelectric plants and a mini-hydroelectric plant.
Hydroelectric power station Changuinola I is located in the Changuinola River basin with a drainage area of 1,445 km². It has an installed generation capacity of 221.24MW and a mini-hydro generator with a capacity of 9.9 MW, which brings its total installed generation capacity to 231.14MW.
Hydroelectric power station Bonyic has area of 135.9 km² located in Quebrada Bonyic, with an installed generation capacity of 31.80MW.
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Basin 102 of Chiriquí Viejo River
River Basin 102 has a total area of 1,376 km². Its main river is the Río Chiriquí Viejo, and the basin has a total generation capacity of 382.75MW provided by 10 operational hydroelectric power stations.
Hydroelectric power station CandeIa I. The Candela hydroelectric plant makes use of the waters of the Candela River operating as a “run-of-the-river” project without the use of any storage. It has a 14 km² area and an installed generation capacity of 0.53MW.
Hydroelectric power station Bajos del Totuma. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Colorado River with a area of 31.76 km² and an installed generation capacity of 6.3MW.
Hydroelectric power station Paso Ancho. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí Viejo River with a area of 108 km² and an installed generation capacity of 6.78 MW.
Hydroelectric power station Pando. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí Viejo River with a area of 184 km² and an installed generation capacity of 32.6MW.
Hydroelectric power station Monte Lirio. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí Viejo River with a area of 275km² and an installed generation capacity of 51.65 MW.
Hydroelectric power station El Alto. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí Viejo River with a area of 456 km² and an installed generation capacity of 72MW.
Hydroelectric power station Bajo Mina. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí Viejo River with a area of 507.1 km² and an installed generation capacity of 57.40MW.
Hydroelectric power station Baitún. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí Viejo River with a area of 650 km² and an installed generation capacity of 87.60MW.
Hydroelectric power station Bajo Frío. This hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí Viejo River with a area of 748km² and an installed generation capacity of 58MW.
Hydroelectric power station San Andrés. This hydroelectric plant uses water from both the Caña Blanca River and La Paja Stream with a area of 46.20 km² and an installed generation capacity of 9.89MW.
Basin 104 of Escárrea River
River Basin 104 has a total area of 373 km². Its main river is the Escárrea River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 7.29MW provided by two operating hydroelectric plants.
Hydroelectric power station Bugaba I. This hydroelectric plant makes use of the waters of the Escárrea River. It has a 51.02 km² area and has an installed generation capacity of 3.29MW.
Hydroelectric power station Bugaba II. This hydroelectric plant uses water from both the Escárrea River and the Guigalá River, with a area of 81.06 km² and an installed generation capacity of 4.00MW.
Hydroelectric power station Bugaba I
Cuenca Hidroenergética 106 - Río Chico
Basin 106 of Chico River
River Basin 106 has a total area of 373 (km²). Its main river is the Río Chico and the basin has a total generation capacity of 91.89MW provided by 9 operating hydroelectric plants.
Macho de Monte Hydroelectric Plant. This hydroelectric plant makes use of the waters of the Macho de Monte River. It has a 43.82 km² service? area and has an installed generation capacity of 2.50MW.
Macano Hydroelectric Plant. The site of this hydroelectric plant is fed by both the Río Chuspa and the Río Piedra with a total service? area of 54.16 km² and an installed generation capacity of 5.25MW.
RP-490 Hydroelectric Plant. This hydroelectric plant makes use of the water resources of both the Río Macho de Monte and Río Piedra with a service? area of 54.16 km² and an installed generation capacity of 14MW.
La Cuchilla Hydroelectric Plant. This hydroelectric plant makes use of the “run-of-the-river” on the Macho de Monte River without the use of storage. The service? area of this plant is 81.62 km² and it has an installed generating capacity of 7.62MW.
Concepción Hydroelectric Plant. The site of this hydroelectric plant is shared with the Las Perlas Norte and Las Perlas Sur hydroelectric plants. It is located on the Piedra River with a service? area of 163.83 km² and an installed generation capacity of 10.00MW.
Central Hidroeléctrica Las Perlas Norte and Las Perlas Sur. Both hydroelectric plants are at the same location on the Piedra River with a service? area of 163.83 km² and an installed generation capacity of 10.00MW each.
Pedregalito I Hydroelectric Plant. The site of this hydroelectric plant is shared with the
Pedregalito II hydroelectric plant. It is located on the Río Chico with area of 228.27 km² and an installed generation capacity of 20MW.
Pedregalito II Hydroelectric Plant . The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Río Chico with a service? area of 228.27 km² and an installed generation capacity of 12.52MW.
Basin 108 of Chiriquí River
River Basin 108 has a total area of 1,905 km². Its main river is the Chiriquí River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 710.01MW provided by 14 operating hydroelectric plants.
Fortuna Hydroelectric Plant. This hydroelectric plant makes use of the waters of the Chiriquí River and represents a hydroelectric storage plant of the Embalse type. It has a drainage area of 166 km² and has an installed generation capacity of 300MW.
Cochea Hydroelectric Plant. This hydroelectric plant makes use of the waters of the Cochea River, with a area ofarea of 103.27 km² and has an installed generation capacity of 15.50MW.
Dolega Hydroelectric Plant. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Cochea River with a area of 121 km² and an installed generation capacity of 3.12MW.
Los Planetas IHydroelectric Plant . The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the David River with a area of 61.20 km² with an installed generation capacity of 4.95MW.
Los Planetas II Hydroelectric Plant. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the David River with a area of 68.78 km² and an installed generation capacity of 8.87MW.
Los Algarrobos Hydroelectric Plant. The intake site of this hydroelectric power station makes use of the water resources of both the Quebrada Algarrobos and Río Casita de Piedra. It has a area of 17.26 km² and an installed generation capacity of 9.86MW.
Mendre I Hydroelectric Plant. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí River with a service? area of 180.8 km² and an installed generation capacity of 19.75MW.
Mendre II Hydroelectric Plant. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí River with a area of 180.8 km² and a 8.2MW installed generation capacity.
Gualaca Hydroelectric Planta. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Estí River with a area of 62 km² and an installed generation capacity of 25.34MW.
Power House Estí. The plant is located at the Barrigón dam site which receives flow from the turbines in Fortuna, the diverted flow from the La Esperanza diversion site in the Chiriquí River and the flow of the Quebrada Barrigón. The site has a area of 703 km² and an installed generation capacity of 120MW.
Prudencia Hydroelectric Planta. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí River with a area of 113 km² and an installed generation capacity of 58.66MW.
Lorena Hydroelectric Planta. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Chiriquí River with a area of 113 km² and an installed generation capacity of 33.8MW.
La Estrella Hydroelectric Planta. The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Caldera River with a area of 137 km² and an installed generation capacity of 47.20MW of generation.
Los Valles Hydroelectric Planta . The site of this hydroelectric plant is located on the Los Valles River. The plant uses water from the Los Valles River and the turbines from the La Estrella hydroelectric plant. It has a area of 58.2 km² and an installed generation capacity of 54.76MW.
Basin 110 of Fonseca River
River Basin 110 has a total area of 1,661 km². Its main river is the Fonseca River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 8.12MW from one operating hydroelectric plant, the Central Hidroeléctrica San Lorenzo hydroelectric plant, which has a 511.4 km² area.
Basin 114 of Tabasará River
River Basin 114 has a total area of 1,289 km². Its main river is the Tabasará River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 28.56MW from one operating hydroelectric plant, the Central Hidroeléctrica Barro Blanco hydroelectric plant, which makes use of the waters of the Tabasará River. It has a 664.25 km² area and an installed generation capacity of 28.56MW.
Basin 118 of San Pablo River
River Basin 118 has a total area of 2,453 km². Its main river is the San Pablo River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 9.9MW from one operating hydroelectric plant, the Central Hidroeléctrica Las Cruces hydroelectric plant, which makes use of the waters of the San Pablo River operating as a “run-of-the-river” project without storage. It has a 352.57 km² area and an installed generation capacity of 9.9MW.
Basin 132 of the Santa María River
River Basin 132 has a total area of 3,326 km². Its main river is the Santa María River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 7MW from one operating hydroelectric plant, the La Yeguada Hydroelectric Plant, which makes use of the waters of the San Juan River operating as a “run-of-the-river” project without storage. It has a 19.30 km² area of exploitation and an installed generation capacity of 7MW.
Basin 134 of the Rio Grande
River Basin 134 has a total area of 2,493 km². Its main river is the Rio Grande and the basin has a total generation capacity of 6.66MW from one operating hydroelectric plant, the El Fraile Hydroelectric Plant, which makes use of the waters of the Rio Grande. It has a 159.72 km² area and an installed generation capacity of 6.66MW.
Basin 136 of the Antón River
River Basin 136 has a total area of 291 km². Its main river is the Antón River and the basin has a total generation capacity of 4.2MW from 3 operating hydroelectric plants. The hydroelectric complex consists of the Central Hidroeléctrica Antón I plant, the Central Hidroeléctrica Antón II plant and the Central Hidroeléctrica Antón III plant. This hydroelectric complex makes use of the waters of the Rio Grande. It has a 28.8 km² area and has an installed generation capacity of 1.40MW each.
Basin 148 of the Bayano River
River Basin 148 has a total area of 4980 km². The Central Hidroeléctrica Bayano hydroelectric plant has a generation capacity of 260MW and makes use of the waters of the Bayano River stored in a reservoir having an area of 3,650 km².
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