CELEC shortlists potential consultants for Chachimbiro geothermal project in Ecuador
Three consultancies have been pre-selected of Phase 1 consultancy work of the planned Chachimbiro geothermal project in Ecuador.
The Chachimbiro geothermal project, located in the Urcuquí canton of Imbabura province, is moving toward its development phase. The Ecuadorian Electric Corporation (CELEC) has announced the preselection of three companies for phase 1 of the project, with support and supervision from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Three companies have been shortlisted from an initial pool of six candidates – Steam Geodesa, Electroconsult, and Consorcio Geotermico Chachimbiro. JICA and Celec are expected to select the consultant responsible for the initial studies and drilling before the end of 2025.
This will be the first geothermal generation project in Ecuador, with a projected capacity of up to 50 MW. The project is being developed in an area with subsoil temperatures close to 235°C, measured since 2018 in the first exploratory wells, optimal conditions for geothermal power generation.
Ecuador has received financial support from JICA for the Chachimbiro geothermal project, having received a $43 million loan in 2024. This had been preceded by a $7 million loan back in 2016, which went into the conduct of a pre-feasibility study.
The development of the Chachimbiro geothermal field is structured in two main phases:
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Phase 1: This includes a consultancy project for the development study of the geothermal field, with the drilling of five wells (four production and one reinjection well), in addition to the construction of a wellhead generation plant of up to 5 MW for pilot testing.
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Phase 2: will include the construction of additional wells, steam collection infrastructure, and the main 50 MW geothermal plant.
Chachimbiro represents a key advance in the diversification of Ecuador’s energy matrix, especially after the electricity supply crisis that affected the country in 2024, when power outages lasted up to 14 hours a day.
Source: Primicias Ecuador via our Spanish language platform PiensaGeotermia
