Uruguay launches tender for Casupá dam construction, works to start in 2027

Uruguay's state water company OSE has officially launched the bidding process for the construction of a significant new dam in Casupá. This project, designed to reinforce the water supply for the metropolitan area and enhance resilience against future droughts, marks a crucial step in the country's water infrastructure development.

Two of the four consortia that have advanced to this stage of the tender process include Chinese companies. These consortia, CCCC-YREC-Impacto and Casupá (Sinohydro10 and Grinor), alongside Consorcio Rovella CVC and Constructor de Presas Uruguay, have been notified and will submit their bids by August 18.

OSE President Pablo Ferreri anticipates that the contract will be awarded after the Ministry of Environment grants prior environmental authorization, expected between October and November. The construction, utilizing roller-compacted concrete technology, is slated to commence in the early months of 2027. The project is estimated to take approximately 30 months, with an expected completion date in mid-2029, aligning with the final year of the current government's term.

The total investment for the dam, which will have a capacity of 118 million cubic meters, is US$130 million. Funding will come from a loan provided by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). Ferreri emphasized the dam's importance, stating that its presence in 2023 or during recent dry periods would have prevented the potable water shortages experienced.

Once completed, the Casupá dam will significantly increase Uruguay's water reserves. Even before reaching its maximum capacity, the accumulated flow can be used to bolster existing reservoirs like Paso Severino and Canelón Grande. With a potential total of 200 million cubic meters of freshwater, the dam could provide a year's worth of water supply even without rainfall.