Fortuna and Esti Hydroelectric plants

Introduction
In Panama there are several hydro-electric plants with different capacities and
distribution objectives, because they allow us to use our water resources to produce
a large part of our Country's electric energy, thus supplying More effectively the
needs of the Population.
Summary
The Fortuna hydroelectric plant is a hydroelectric dam with reservoir and is located
the province of Chiriquí was inaugurated in March 1984, with an installed capacity
of 300 MW (3 units or Pelton turbines of 100MW each) taking advantage of the
flowing waters of the river Chiriquí diverted by a rocking dam with a concrete screen
of about 100 meters high. It has a pressure tunnel of 6.0 km of length, a tunnel of
discharge with 8.0 km of length and a tunnel of access to machine House of 1.6 km
of length; The Machine house is underground (430 meters deep). The normal level
of operation is the altitude 1050 meters above the average sea level by pouring the
turbine water at a height of 242 meters above the average sea level, its maximum
turbine flow is 45 m3/s. The Fortuna hydroelectric is one of the main suppliers of
the Republic of Panama and its current owner is ENEL Fortuna
The hydroelectric plant Esti is located approximately 22 kilometers northeast of the
city of David, very close to the town of Gualaca, came into operation in November
2003. This plant has two units for a total installed capacity of 120 MW.
It uses the turbine waters or discharges of the hydroelectric Fortuna with the
addition of the flowing waters diverted from the Caldera, Chiriquí and Quebrada
potbelly rivers. The plant consists of two dams, one of concrete on the river Chiriquí
and the other on the Quebrada Potbelly, a channel of approximately 5.7 km of length
until the house of machines, with shedding in the river Esti. Its current owner is AES
Panamá.
Conclusion
Although Panama is a country with a very strategic geographical position because it
has two aspects that give us abundant water wealth, we are currently going through
a drought crisis that is considerably diminishing the levels of the reservoirs, So it's
time to take effective actions that will somehow allow us to reduce the harmful effects
of environmental pollution and global warming,