| La Esmeralda Dam | |
| Name Official: | Presa La Esmeralda |
| Image Alt: | 52 KM of TUNJA city |
| Location Map: | Colombia |
| Location Map Size: | BOYACA |
| Location Map Caption: | VALLE DE TENZA |
| Coordinates: | 4.9008°N -73.2969°W |
| Country: | Colombia |
| Location: | Santa María, Neira Province |
| Status: | O |
| Construction Began: | 1960 |
| Opening: | 1976 |
| Cost: | $395 million |
| Dam Type: | Embankment, rock-fill |
| Dam Height: | 237m (778feet) |
| Dam Length: | 310m (1,020feet) |
| Dam Volume: | 11500000m2 |
| Dam Crosses: | Batá River |
| Res Name: | La Esmeralda Reservoir |
| Res Capacity Total: | 758e6m3 |
| Res Capacity Active: | 680e6m3 |
| Res Surface: | 12.6km (07.8miles) |
| Res Elevation: | 1200m (3,900feet) |
| Res Max Depth: | 130m (430feet) |
| Res Max Length: | 22km (14miles) |
| Res Max Width: | 1km (01miles) |
| Plant Name: | Chivor Power Station |
| Plant Coordinates: | 4.881°N -73.232°W |
| Plant Operator: | AES Chivor |
| Plant Commission: | 1976–1982 |
| Plant Turbines: | 8 x 125MW Pelton turbines[1] |
| Plant Capacity: | 1000MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 4620e6kWh |
La Esmeralda Dam is an embankment dam on the Batá River northwest of Santa María in Boyacá Department, Neira Province, Valle de Tenza (Tenza Valley) Colombia, 52 km to south of Tunja city. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and it is part of the Chivor Hydroelectric Project. Water from the Batá is diverted by the dam to a power station that discharges to the Lengupá River. The power station supplies 8% of Colombia's power demand.[2]
Initial studies for the project began in 1954. The idea behind the dam was to divert water from the Batá to the Lengupá which lies at a much lower elevation. This idea was originally suggested by a topographer at The Electric Promotion Institute and later contemplated by an American-French delegation that was helping to develop Colombia's Electrification Plan at the time. Colombia's president at the time, Gustavo Rojas Pinilla promoted the project as well and it was dubbed "Project Gustavo". In 1958, further studies including geological and hydrological began.[3] The hydroelectric project was designed in two 500 MW stages and it became apparent that additional funding would be needed to construct it. In November 1970, Ingetec S.A — under the supervision of Interconexión Electrica S.A — began construction on stage one after receiving a World Bank loan.[4] Stage one was complete in 1977 and a year prior, construction on stage two had started in June. By 1982, stage two was completed and inaugurated. Stage two required a World Bank loan as well. In 1996, operation and ownership of the dam and power plant was transferred from the public to the private sector.[5] [6] [7]
La Esmeralda dam is a 237m (778feet) tall and 310m (1,020feet) long central core rock-fill embankment dam with a structural volume of .[8] The dam's reservoir has a 758000000m2 capacity, of which 680000000m2 is active storage. The reservoir has a surface area of 12.60NaN0 and a maximum depth of . Its maximum length is at a normal elevation of above sea level and its maximum width is .[9] Helping to withhold the reservoir are two auxiliary dams.[2]
Chivor Power Station, lies to the southeast and is fed with water from reservoir by two separate 7.6km (04.7miles) long tunnels (stage one and two). Near the banks of the Lengupá River, the tunnels split into eight separate penstocks to supply each Pelton turbine-generator with water. Once utilised for electricity, the water is discharged into the Lengupá. The normal drop in elevation from the reservoir to the power station is .[5]